A pollinator-friendly show garden designed for Ely Cathedral Home & Garden Show, Cambridgeshire
Nestled in the historic grounds of Ely Cathedral, A Woven River is a celebration of naturalistic garden design where soft, wildlife-friendly planting flows around sculptural forms and sustainable materials.
Created by Tim Jennings for the Ely Cathedral Home and Garden Show, this show garden demonstrates how even a compact space can become a vital haven for pollinators, wildlife, and people.
This garden was designed and built specifically for the Ely Cathedral Home & Garden Show, one of Cambridgeshire’s most inspiring summer events. Set within the rarely opened Bishop’s Garden, A Woven River was part of a curated collection of small show gardens bringing fresh ideas to traditional settings.
A Garden Inspired by Nature
The design takes its name from the sweeping willow and hazel structure that weaves its way through the space like a meandering riverbed. This natural feature guides the eye and creates rhythm, gently dividing the planting into drifts and layers.
Beneath it, drought-tolerant perennials, ornamental grasses, and pollinator-friendly flowers are allowed to mingle and self-seed, reflecting a more intuitive and resilient approach to garden-making.
Designed for Wildlife
This Cambridgeshire show garden puts pollinators front and centre. Butterflies, bees, and hoverflies are drawn to plants such as Verbena bonariensis, Echinops, Knautia, and Achillea, all chosen for their long flowering seasons and nectar-rich blooms.
Beneath the canopy of planting, insect hotels made from stacked logs and drilled timber create essential habitats for solitary bees and beetles.
A shallow water bowl, complete with smooth pebbles for safe access, provides a source of water for birds, frogs, and insects alike.
Sustainable Materials, Strong Structure
The entire garden is built using sustainable, reclaimed, and locally sourced materials. The woven river structure is made from coppiced hazel and willow, while the steel-edged bed and water bowl add a contemporary edge and crisp contrast to the soft planting.
Beneath the beauty lies a strong architectural backbone, an essential ingredient of Tim’s signature garden design style.
A Showcase of Cambridgeshire Garden Design
Tim Jennings Design is based in Ely and Lode in Cambridgeshire, and specialises in creating naturalistic gardens that support wildlife while maintaining structure, elegance, and functionality.
This show garden at Ely Cathedral reflects Tim’s belief that even small spaces can become richly layered environments, full of movement, sound, and seasonal interest.
Whether you’re in Ely, Cambridge, or the surrounding Cambridgeshire villages, Tim Jennings Design brings award-winning expertise, creativity, and a passion for ecology to every project.
Looking to bring this style into your own garden?
Explore our consultation services or get in touch to start designing a wildlife-friendly garden in Ely or across Cambridgeshire.
Tim’s design studios is next door to the beautiful and famous gardens of Anglesey abbey in Lode, Cambridge.
With design studios in the famous cathedral city of Ely and next door to the beautiful gardens of Anglesey Abbey in Lode, Cambridge, Tim Jennings Design is rooted in two of Cambridgeshire’s most inspiring landscapes.
For more information please contact Tim on 07931 278692
or email: tim@timjenningsdesign.co.uk
