V&A Dundee Opens Major Garden Futures Exhibition with 400 Objects

The V&A Dundee's new exhibition, Garden Futures: Designing with Nature, explores the multifaceted significance of gardens from ancient times to contemporary designs, showcasing over 400 objects that highlight their roles as practical, therapeutic, political, and cultural spaces. The exhibit features diverse elements including historical kitchen gardens, the resurgence of allotments, and innovative designs like self-watering origami pots made from recycled ocean plastic, alongside artworks inspired by figures such as William Morris and the Bloomsbury Group. Dundee's contributions to garden design are prominently displayed, including the Maggie's Dundee healing garden designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd, which integrates nature into cancer care, and concept art for the Eden Project's Great Living Wall. The exhibition opening drew hundreds of stylish guests, emphasizing the personal and cultural connections people have with gardens. Meanwhile, Bridgemere Show Gardens near Nantwich unveiled the Octavia Hill Garden, celebrating the National Trust co-founder’s vision of accessible green spaces, and featuring biodiverse, pollinator-attracting planting. Together, these events and exhibits underscore gardens' enduring importance for environmental, social, and personal well-being.