The Heart of the Jungle by Jonathan Dakic - BBC Gardeners' World Live 2026 - GardensDB Browse [ ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** ](https://gardensdb.com) [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) [ Search gardens, designers, shows… ](https://gardensdb.com/search) [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fthe-heart-of-the-jungle) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fthe-heart-of-the-jungle) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Follow [ gardensdb on Instagram (opens in a new tab)](https://www.instagram.com/gardensdb/) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows Horticultural shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events Festivals, courses & open days ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours Step inside, long after the show packs up ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails Curated routes through the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People Designers, judges, growers ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios Design practices ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books Recommended reading ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs Roles in the industry ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors Organisations that back the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits Causes behind the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives Groups & community projects ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies Suppliers & contractors ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education Schools, colleges & universities ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries Plant suppliers & growers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) [ Submit a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) [ About GardensDB ](https://gardensdb.com/help) [ gardensdb on Instagram (opens in a new tab)](https://www.instagram.com/gardensdb/) ![A modern tropical show garden featuring striking red rectangular frames, a white curved sculpture, a black pergola over a sofa, and lush green foliage with pink and orange flowers, set around a light grey paved path.](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5e63b437-4d10-4bc9-89a0-581f1d28d682/conversions/PXL_20260617_144944641-gallery.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ BBC Gardeners' World Live 2026 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/bbc-gardeners-world-live-2026) Show Garden ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/bbc-gardeners-world-live-silver-merit/icon.webp) Silver Merit Award The Heart of the Jungle ========================= Designed by Jonathan Dakic, Briony Dakic At a glance Show BBC Gardeners' World Live Year 2026 Category Show Garden 360° Tour Large Show Garden Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- The Heart of the Jungle is a contemporary, foliage-led show garden that reimagines the modern urban garden as a place of escape, wellbeing and year-round enjoyment. The garden uses bold architectural structure, raised planting and hardy exotic species to create an immersive, transportive space that remains realistic for UK gardens. A heart-shaped pathway forms the organising spine of the garden, guiding visitors through layered planting beds rich in texture and form rather than seasonal colour. The design demonstrates how climate change and urban heat allow a wider palette of exotic-looking plants to thrive in UK cities, offering stylish, low-maintenance garden solutions. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/bbc-gardeners-world-live-silver-merit/icon.webp) Silver Merit Award BBC Gardeners World Live The people behind it Designers ----------- - [ JD Jonathan Dakic Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/jonathan-dakic) - [ BD Briony Dakic Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/briony-dakic) Step inside 360° tour ----------- Loading panorama... Unable to load panorama tour. Click and drag to look around, click hotspots or arrows to move. Scroll to zoom. Tap and drag to look around, tap hotspots or arrows to move. Pinch to zoom. Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5e63b437-4d10-4bc9-89a0-581f1d28d682/conversions/PXL_20260617_144944641-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/505ae48f-80a8-44e8-a5cc-5f48a3e5b63e/conversions/PXL_20260617_144917718-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/8e46aab8-7553-490a-90ed-5c257eb5bf88/conversions/PXL_20260617_144947065-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/1f64e36d-1685-4039-beef-65818939fb1d/conversions/PXL_20260617_144956636-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/31e7518c-73f9-4c03-8931-3f4831759b8e/conversions/PXL_20260617_144900492-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3c083725-8505-4303-994e-e159769b0254/conversions/IMG_4525-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/24f18a60-a3b1-4293-87c7-3cb469360bac/conversions/IMG_4528-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c4358a8f-f678-4e96-a9d1-3015f17963b5/conversions/IMG_4529-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/acf54a82-1699-45de-9996-44ff93c69be4/conversions/IMG_4530-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/f0b2ae82-f279-47c1-aac3-fab0d3783190/conversions/IMG_4531-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0917d046-3828-4be7-96b6-e10c1b325941/conversions/IMG_4532-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5336d2e2-de2a-4955-80a8-2e5dbfa97eaf/conversions/IMG_4533-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/29760f3c-713e-490e-8c3b-1e5f85c3bbf5/conversions/IMG_4534-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/237ffe86-cb45-4bda-81b3-a4a7971411f4/conversions/IMG_4535-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2d652ecc-f3fb-43d2-a097-a4bddc9f680f/conversions/IMG_4536-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ba2d4165-ac74-409f-9dea-0a594c42c51c/conversions/IMG_4537-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c6c9bdf7-330b-43aa-8821-d6aa24d39dfb/conversions/IMG_4538-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/455f83c5-57e6-4673-818f-820ce62ea4a0/conversions/IMG_4539-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/fbc30bc7-7cad-4468-9c4d-e5684efcf6eb/conversions/IMG_4540-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d330e4c2-a121-4235-8dc6-2f081409ebb3/conversions/IMG_4541-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ced5eaa0-484c-4c70-819c-0c7984ab080c/conversions/IMG_4542-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/013d9fc4-4ef4-456c-805f-71995fb496bd/conversions/IMG_4543-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/45434e84-b97c-46ae-9c62-f12665026356/conversions/IMG_4544-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/02185930-37e1-42f9-9011-2e6670853229/conversions/IMG_4545-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/7a315bd0-4e18-4ac3-b1e8-8f5597ec135e/conversions/IMG_4546-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/42d0fe6c-f700-469a-95c4-a2508f439de6/conversions/IMG_4547-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2f264c71-ce3f-4815-979c-be1d8987c218/conversions/IMG_4548-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/36777f02-64ae-4971-b47c-81f45119dae7/conversions/IMG_4527-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3da8b04e-3d68-4d30-b6dc-c52760c24275/conversions/image-gallery.webp) Show 12 more Show less ![]() / Hero image Set as hero Photo: ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** The world's largest collection of show gardens online, kept free, kept current, and shaped by the community that uses it. 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