The National Autistic Society Garden - 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-national-autistic-society-garden) [ 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-national-autistic-society-garden) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) 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) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/the-national-autistic-society-garden/primary_image.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-2024) Show Garden ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-gilt-medal/icon.webp) Silver Gilt Medal The National Autistic Society Garden ====================================== Designed by Sophie Parmenter, Dido Milne At a glance Show RHS Chelsea Flower Show Year 2024 Category Show Garden Large Show Garden Photo: Royal Horticultural Society About this garden The story ----------- Designed by Sophie Parmenter and Dido Milne, The National Autistic Society Garden seeks to capture an autistic person’s everyday experience of the world, using walls of cork to create a series of spaces dedicated to different types of social interaction - at work, with friends and family, with partners, and with ourselves. It highlights a strategy called ‘masking’ – a potentially draining process involving consciously or unconsciously hiding autistic characteristics in order to fit in. The cork ‘masks’ encircle a central sanctuary with a mesmeric kinetic sculpture, alluding to the inner mind’s complexity and beauty. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-gilt-medal/icon.webp) Silver Gilt Medal RHS The people behind it Designers ----------- - [ ![Sophie Parmenter](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/sophie-parmenter/profile_photo.jpg) Sophie Parmenter Designer Sophie Parmenter Studio ](https://gardensdb.com/people/sophie-parmenter) - [ ![Dido Milne](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/dido-milne/profile_photo.jpg) Dido Milne Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/dido-milne) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/8e0da2b2-81cd-4641-9c29-4cc40d2d1ab4/conversions/image_1-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/fdd50fca-7e2d-4dd5-90a9-61184ba3d78a/conversions/image_2-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a3c4aa24-57c9-4f7e-b3d8-9f0d6ce9c3a8/conversions/image_3-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/093fbd53-ade4-44bd-af96-2007eb6970f9/conversions/image_4-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/cf7217a6-b451-421b-b225-cf1c199190e9/conversions/image_5-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/794cff70-6531-44db-bf69-c63255febcb9/conversions/image_6-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5b56902b-b6b8-472a-a049-972e99f22afb/conversions/image_7-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/775c2179-29f5-47e1-9fb4-151ffdb18aef/conversions/mqdefault-gallery.webp) The National Autistic Society Garden - Episode 1 ![]() / Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Design Studio 1 - [ ![Sophie Parmenter Studio](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/studios/sophie-parmenter-studio/logo.png) Sophie Parmenter Studio ](https://gardensdb.com/studios/sophie-parmenter-studio) ### Sponsor 1 - [ ![Project Giving Back](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/charities/project-giving-back/logo.webp) Project Giving Back ](https://gardensdb.com/charities/project-giving-back) With thanks to Additional sponsors --------------------- - [ The National Autistic Society ](https://www.autism.org.uk/) ![](/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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