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'Wonderwall' inspires flower show 'Wonderwall' inspires flower show
(about 1 hour later)
By Nik Wood BBC News Gardening helped volunteer Luke Farley turn over a new leaf Volunteers used fruit, herbs, vegetables and ornamental plants in their wall
By Nik Wood BBC News
A giant "wall" made up of 4,000 plants created by homeless volunteers is providing inspiration at the Chelsea Flower Show as part of a regeneration project with Cornwall's Eden Project.A giant "wall" made up of 4,000 plants created by homeless volunteers is providing inspiration at the Chelsea Flower Show as part of a regeneration project with Cornwall's Eden Project.
"Compared with what I used to be like - getting into trouble with the police, drinking and drugs - gardening helps me relax and chill out, this has given me something to be proud of," says Luke Farley."Compared with what I used to be like - getting into trouble with the police, drinking and drugs - gardening helps me relax and chill out, this has given me something to be proud of," says Luke Farley.
The young volunteer from the St Petroc's Society, which caters for single homeless people, sums up the ethos behind The Key garden.The young volunteer from the St Petroc's Society, which caters for single homeless people, sums up the ethos behind The Key garden.
Urban gardensUrban gardens
It was commissioned by the government to help homeless people improve their skills and training - giving them an opportunity to improve their lives.It was commissioned by the government to help homeless people improve their skills and training - giving them an opportunity to improve their lives.
The garden, which was undertaken by the world-famous Eden Project, is creating quite a stir at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society.The garden, which was undertaken by the world-famous Eden Project, is creating quite a stir at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society.
We have to get to grips with why we have got homelessness, crime and reoffending Howard Jones, the Eden ProjectWe have to get to grips with why we have got homelessness, crime and reoffending Howard Jones, the Eden Project
People from homeless projects, together with serving and former prisoners, have worked as a team to design, grow and build The Key.People from homeless projects, together with serving and former prisoners, have worked as a team to design, grow and build The Key.
It will be judged at Chelsea alongside gardens designed by some of the world's leading horticulturalists.It will be judged at Chelsea alongside gardens designed by some of the world's leading horticulturalists.
One of its high-profile features is a vertical green wall 66ft (20m) wide and 7ft (2m) high, built with more than 4,000 young and tender plants.One of its high-profile features is a vertical green wall 66ft (20m) wide and 7ft (2m) high, built with more than 4,000 young and tender plants.
The garden's designers claim the wall is going to be a popular feature of urban gardens in the future, where there will be less space and a greater emphasis on the environment.The garden's designers claim the wall is going to be a popular feature of urban gardens in the future, where there will be less space and a greater emphasis on the environment.
This will be combined with the trend for "growing your own" as it can also include soft fruit, herbs and vegetables mixed in with ornamental plants.This will be combined with the trend for "growing your own" as it can also include soft fruit, herbs and vegetables mixed in with ornamental plants.
The wall was planted by team members from the Shekinah Mission in Plymouth, which supports homeless people.The wall was planted by team members from the Shekinah Mission in Plymouth, which supports homeless people.
Volunteer Lucy Frew says the project gave her confidence Gardening helped volunteer Luke Farley turn over a new leaf
"I have been telling everyone in my family that my work is going to be on show at Chelsea," said Lucy Frew, one of the team responsible."I have been telling everyone in my family that my work is going to be on show at Chelsea," said Lucy Frew, one of the team responsible.
"It's bucked up my confidence and it's made me feel good about myself.""It's bucked up my confidence and it's made me feel good about myself."
Fellow team member Peter Murphy said: "Chelsea can be seen as a bit of a clique and I think this is a great idea because it will help it get back to its grass roots."Fellow team member Peter Murphy said: "Chelsea can be seen as a bit of a clique and I think this is a great idea because it will help it get back to its grass roots."
Another central feature is the Places of Change pavilion, designed by Architecture Sans Frontieres (ASF), which works with disadvantaged people in the UK.Another central feature is the Places of Change pavilion, designed by Architecture Sans Frontieres (ASF), which works with disadvantaged people in the UK.
Former prisoner Dean Stalham worked with ASF to design large pillars around the pavilion painted with the words of a poem he wrote following his release.Former prisoner Dean Stalham worked with ASF to design large pillars around the pavilion painted with the words of a poem he wrote following his release.
"It's really an outpouring of my life. I started it in the pram and it covers right up to the present day," he said."It's really an outpouring of my life. I started it in the pram and it covers right up to the present day," he said.
"I thought about painting the words on the pillars very neatly but I decided to just paint them very fast because it represents the tone of the poem.""I thought about painting the words on the pillars very neatly but I decided to just paint them very fast because it represents the tone of the poem."
Howard Jones, director of human networks at the Eden Project, said: "We have to get to grips with why we have got homelessness, crime and reoffending that is causing major problems in communities across the country."Howard Jones, director of human networks at the Eden Project, said: "We have to get to grips with why we have got homelessness, crime and reoffending that is causing major problems in communities across the country."
Mr Jones hopes the development of new skills will give team members a better chance of getting a job and pulling themselves out of the spiral of homelessness and crime.Mr Jones hopes the development of new skills will give team members a better chance of getting a job and pulling themselves out of the spiral of homelessness and crime.
"When Chelsea packs up, we are not going to say thanks very much, it was nice knowing you, " he said."When Chelsea packs up, we are not going to say thanks very much, it was nice knowing you, " he said.
"This is just the beginning and it's also helping to extend an existing programme, and that is going to continually grow as a result of this.""This is just the beginning and it's also helping to extend an existing programme, and that is going to continually grow as a result of this."
The project was commissioned by the Department of Communities and Local Government.The project was commissioned by the Department of Communities and Local Government.
The recently formed Homes and Communities Agency worked with Eden to increase the awareness of their Places of Change programme, which focuses on homeless people.The recently formed Homes and Communities Agency worked with Eden to increase the awareness of their Places of Change programme, which focuses on homeless people.