Discover the story behind The Octavia Hill Garden

A garden for people, nature and wildlife

The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond with the National Trust celebrates pioneering social reformer Octavia Hill (1838-1912), a founder of the National Trust, who believed that ‘the healthy gift of air and the joy of plants and flowers’ were vital in everyone’s life. The garden celebrates her legacy and aims to inspire more people to create gardens that connect us with the natural world.

One in three people in Britain don't have access to a green space within 15 minutes’ walk from home. Gardens of all shapes and sizes have the power to help people and nature thrive – a belief shared by Blue Diamond Garden Centres, the National Trust and Ann-Marie Powell Gardens.

Through the collaboration with the National Trust, the Blue Diamond Team were inspired by Octavia's work, and approached the Trust to join forces and create a garden at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Designed by Ann-Marie Powell Gardens with the Blue Diamond Team, the garden has a relaxed feel, natural planting style and a series of ‘outdoor sitting rooms’ connected by meandering pathways, echoing the ‘winding ways’ that Octavia often referred to.

‘We all want quiet. We all want beauty…we all need space.’

Octavia Hill, Co-founder of the National Trust

Octavia Hill: for people and nature

One of the three founders of the National Trust, Octavia Hill worked tirelessly to improve urban housing and protect green spaces. She believed in the importance of access to nature for human wellbeing and the need to stop the destruction of the natural landscape.

Octavia also believed that a garden should be the complement of every home. She campaigned to save even the smallest neighbourhood open space as an ‘outdoor sitting room’, providing ‘pure earth, clean air and blue sky’, helping to create and protect open spaces in cities and beyond.

Octavia fought for the preservation of the countryside her entire life. She helped the National Trust to buy and protect its first land and houses and campaigned for the preservation of footpaths to ensure everyone had right of access to the land.

Octavia's mission is as relevant today as it was 129 years ago. By looking after green spaces and cultural places in our urban heartlands, more people can enjoy and access them, helping people and nature to thrive.

You can help continue the work of Octavia Hill, with a donation to the National Trust’s Everyone Needs Nature appeal. Your donation could create meadows, replenish woodland, grow new green spaces and encourage nature to flourish for future generations to enjoy.

Donate to the Trust