Featured image: Jason Williams

Manchester Met students are collaborating with Jason Williams, aka the Cloud Gardener, to design balcony gardens for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Urban Garden Show next month.

The opportunity is in collaboration with Man Met Rise and will involve students taking part in workshops and design sessions to transform urban spaces into sustainable gardens alongside multi-award-winning garden designer Jason.

Based in Manchester, Jason has designed gardens for several RHS shows. He began his journey during the pandemic when he transformed his balcony into what he describes as a “cloud garden”.

His balcony garden designs aim to maximise urban spaces, encourage urban biodiversity and wildlife, and benefit mental health.

At the first planning workshop ahead of the April show, Jason explained his work is very off-brand for the RHS. He says: “I’ve had to forge my path but times are changing. The public and media attention has helped with the RHS.”

The RHS Urban Show takes place at The Depot in Mayfield on April 18 – 21. 

Traditional flower shows like the Chelsea Flower Show are known as ‘show gardens’. This concept of a show garden will be disregarded because the Cloud Gardener intends these urban gardens to educate people. The urban show will teach new gardeners and those with an interest who are not sure where to begin.

Adam, a first-year illustration student involved in the project says: “I really like the idea of gardening and this workshop seems like a good way to learn and encourage myself.”

According to Jason the Urban Show will focus on sustainability and target students and working-class Mancunians. The Chelsea Fashion Show may be aspirational, but the Manchester show is inspirational explains Jason.

Jason says: “By working with students, the people who are the future of the city, we can bring life to the city.”

Jason explains Manchester is turning to high-rise apartment blocks, which take space away from wildlife and biodiversity. These urban spaces are meant to give back to Manchester. He says: “Greenspaces, no matter how big or small, play a huge role.”

This project allows students to gain hands-on experience, transforming small urban spaces with the creation of a balcony garden. “Students are the legacy of these gardens,” says Williams.

The goal of the students involved is to ensure they are reflecting realistic green spaces for people. Students are placed in groups and are expected to create and design four types of gardens for a 4m x 1.5m balcony.

Each garden faces a different direction: North, East, West, and South. This means each will have varying degrees of sunlight, allowing certain plants to flourish in their respective places. One garden may be to attract pollinators and wildlife, while another may be for growing food or supporting mental health.

Second-year art student Kylie says: “I’m interested to learn more about gardening because it connects a lot with my major. Architecture in the future includes more gardening spaces since we’re in a clime crisis”.

Matthew Carney, Experiential Learning Tutor at Rise says: “At Rise we aim to provide exciting, hands-on experiences that ground topics like sustainability in real-world challenges”

He shares his excitement about the project: “I am delighted to be working with the Cloud Gardener. I think Jason provides a fantastic example of how one person can have a huge impact on creating more sustainable cities and communities.

It’s great that the students involved in the project have been able to join Jason’s journey and add their skills and experience to overcoming a problem we all face.”

Students can get involved in the project by signing up with Man Met Rise – the university’s innovative offering students the opportunity to tailor their studies and gain experience that will assist in learning new skills and credits towards their degree and shape their future careers.

For more information visit rise.mmu.ac.uk