The Wallace Line Garden : Gardeners World Live 2025
The Garden
The ‘Wallace Line’ garden is a formal central canal garden with a twist. From 1854-1862 the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace travelled the Malay Archipelago collecting plants and animals for scientific research. Wallace developed a theory of Natural Selection at the same time as Charles Darwin.
He also hypothesised about an imaginary line between otherwise close islands which seemed to feature different species of plants and animals. The Wallace Line Garden recreates a representation of this line in the long pool and features a Jungle style planting on one side of the line and Savannah / Desert style on the other. We now know the Wallace Line is a result of Plate Tectonics bringing together areas on which Asian and Australasian species had developed separately.
A relaxing bench gives a contemplative view down the pond to a bust of Wallace. The garden shows how you can combine two distinct styles of planting in one garden. It also highlights that once you have crossed the line from one eco system to another, there is no going back
Special Thanks To some amazing companies and Individuals who helped bring The Wallace Line to life.
JG Landscaping Limited : The garden has been constructed by the award winning JG Landscapes. Based in the West Midlands covering Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. Proud APL members specialising in full garden builds and public gardens.
JG Landscapes won ‘People’s Choice Show Garden’ at Gardeners World Live in 2024 and work with Designers regularly to bring their show garden inspiration to reality. Huge thanks to Jason, Emma, Chris and Cal who have been amazing. jglandscapers@outlook.com
AlFe CrMo : Bristol based AlFe CrMo designed and fabricated the 'Wallace Line in steel. AlFe CrMo produce high quality bespoke metal work for your home or garden. mail@alfecrmo.com
Josh Roevarran / Cybi Design : Josh is based in Newport, and works on exciting projects with a focus on re-creating 3D Objects. a talented artist Josh sculpted the Wallace bust and digitally mapped it for production.
email ; joshuaroevarran@outlook.com
Drumlord Limited : Drumlord specialise in prototyping and used their expertise to 3D print the Wallace bust. Modern technology and years of experience mean if you can think it Drumlord can make it. enquiries@drumlord.co.uk
Frances Noon, Mixed Media Sculpture and Jewellery : Based in West Yorkshire Frances produced the ceramic butterflies for the garden. Check out Frances's amazing jewellery and sculptures francesnoon64@gmail.com
Plants : Friendly and generous with advice and recommendations I was lucky to source the majority of plants for the garden from Desert to Jungle in Taunton and Fullbrook Nurseries in Lichfield. Big thanks to Rob plants@deserttojungle.com and David sales@fullbrookplants.co.uk
Planting Team : Trained horticulturalist Kelly Weare is a Usk based head gardener responsible for developing many of the most spectacular gardens of the region. Gemma Barker based in Nottingham is a qualified and talented designer and hugely enthusiastic gardener. Together with the landscapers the planting teams are the real heroes behind show gardens.
The building of a show garden is truely a collegiate effort with everyone helping each other. Huge thanks to the APL for making it happen. Special thanks to Rachel Bailey for all the plants and Phil Tremayne who always seems to have your back. Gillian Goodson for the advice and encouragement. The team from Immediate, Lucy and Imogen and Bob Sweet for all the suggestions about making the garden the best it could be.
Finally big thanks to our sponsors Bradstones, Rowlawn and Readyhedge.
