Scotts exhibit new RHS Cosy Nook at Chelsea
A brand new RHS Garden Building will be unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (20 – 24 May 2014) by Scotts of Thrapston, manufacturer of high quality summerhouses (Stand WA12).
Scotts of Thrapston has worked in close partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) since 2013 and initially launched its RHS Centenary Arbour and RHS Centenary Summerhouse inspired by the 100th anniversary of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The RHS Cosy Nook is the latest garden building to join the range and has been created following inspiration from the archives in the RHS Lindley Library.
Bryn Lee, who has been instrumental in the design of the new building, said that the new RHS Cosy Nook pays homage to the follies discovered in the RHS Lindley Library – garden buildings that in the 19th to 20th centuries were decorative but had a secondary practical function such as housing or sheltering.
Bryn says: “The historical images we found during our research in the library archives clearly demonstrated buildings that combined garden work with pleasure, making the time spent in the garden more enjoyable.
“This led us to think about a functional area of the building both for storage and for display. The resulting design includes both a tool store and an area of staging which can be used for planting out, displaying containers or even used to house food and drink when entertaining.
“The layout and practicality of the RHS Cosy Nook allows the gardener to interact with the building. It acts as the hub of the garden and makes the best use of the space available. Its compact footprint means it works well in smaller gardens and can even be positioned in a corner.”
The Scotts of Thrapston RHS Cosy Nook measures 1.8 metres from front to back and is 2 metres wide. The tool store measures 80cm deep and the seating area includes a 1 metre overhang for protection from the elements and can comfortably house a freestanding table and chairs underneath. A 50cm deep shelving unit can be situated to the left or the right of the building and a central door provides easy access to the store area.
Constructed from pressure impregnated European redwood, a range of seven heritage colour finishes are available. The green stains of the Willow or Silver Birch options are joined by the brown shades of Chestnut and Copper. Paint options include Buttermilk – a neutral cream tone, Clotted Cream - a subtle shade with a hint of grey or Duck Egg - a bold but traditional green hue.
Scotts of Thrapston will also be demonstrating its RHS Centenary Arbour alongside Burghley and Balmoral octagonal shaped summerhouses. A popular classic summerhouse, the Burghley features three attractive diamond-shaped leaded windows to the rear, lockable doors with casement style windows and brass ironmongery to finish. Extending the seasons, the windows can be opened up during a warm day or closed to provide a garden retreat when the weather is cooler.
At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show the Balmoral gazebo will be featured on Scotts of Thrapston’s optional rotating base which takes inspiration from Victorian gardens. Allowing the summerhouse to turn easily to follow the sun as it moves throughout the day or to simply change the view of the garden, rotating garden buildings were a particular favourite of George Bernard Shaw. The rotating base can be specified to the Balmoral, Baltimore or Burghley octagonal summerhouses. As can be expected from Scotts’, every last detail is carefully considered and the rotating base is always hidden by a timber skirting to match the chosen colour finish.
Visitors to the show will also be able to see Scotts’ Sun Ray Garden Room and Newhaven Corner Summerhouse. One of Scott’s larger designs, the Sun Ray Garden Room is ideal for entertaining all year round with adequate space to seat up to eight people in comfort. The traditional style building has a slate effect glass fibre roof with a cedar shingle roof option also available.
The Newhaven Corner Summerhouse is thoughtfully designed for a corner setting with careful consideration given to the use of space. This summerhouse opens up to create a spacious airy room and, as with any of Scott’s summerhouses (excepting the Polebrook), can be specified with a shelf feature as an optional extra within the back panel. The shelf, featuring two diamond leaded windows, provides additional storage for drinks, books or a radio to be close to hand.
For more information, visit the Scotts of Thrapston stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show – WA12 – or log on to scottsofthrapston.co.uk.