To be or not to be - 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%2Fto-be-or-not-to-be) [ 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%2Fto-be-or-not-to-be) - [ 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/to-be-or-not-to-be/primary_image.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ BBC Gardeners' World Live 2025 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/bbc-gardeners-world-live-2025) Beautiful Borders To be or not to be ==================== Designed by Emma Mayho, Pippa Willcox At a glance Show BBC Gardeners' World Live Year 2025 Category Beautiful Borders Border Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- In the busyness of life, how can we find space and time to connect with others and with nature, to pause and observe, and just ‘to be’? ‘To be or not to be’ is a garden where people, words and nature combine. To access the calm and beautiful central space, we must first enter a narrow path, rough with overgrown plants and debris. INspiring words and beautiful plants lead us on to an oasis of healing and connectivity - a place to pause and enjoy. We leave the garden feeling restored, energised, purposeful. The people behind it Designers ----------- - [ EM Emma Mayho Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/emma-mayho) - [ ![Pippa Willcox](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/pippa-willcox/profile_photo.webp) Pippa Willcox Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/pippa-willcox) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2b8306ec-d950-4eed-87ea-818d7145d434/conversions/PXL_20250611_164323935-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a38dbb19-834d-43c5-afeb-2ba9a6e3e726/conversions/PXL_20250611_164320851-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/eda31c95-cc8e-4448-9905-8c0d17392309/conversions/PXL_20250611_164318686-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0c0a7518-850a-405e-889c-894ddf13c9fb/conversions/PXL_20250611_164315875-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/532b2665-c312-45c8-9456-6948bf99dc5d/conversions/PXL_20250611_164328267-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2ae5fd09-2b62-44eb-b34d-b998c30e3dc2/conversions/PXL_20250611_164332723-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/29f37084-494a-417c-8090-61f735265fa5/conversions/PXL_20250611_164335348-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/cb5f197d-ad24-44d2-b51c-4ca3e03f3a00/conversions/PXL_20250611_164341030-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/23d8efb5-f10a-4bf2-9c65-64719d46f81b/conversions/PXL_20250611_164345462-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a2994350-f29f-43c8-a59f-b2803a406d34/conversions/PXL_20250611_164348357-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/e3010d97-9678-4ae5-b50c-67a7a8177943/conversions/PXL_20250611_164354497-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/766ff09e-91f0-4673-b24b-8c99a79b8129/conversions/PXL_20250611_164408872-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/623df0fe-5576-4bfa-b02c-2d52c62fd82f/conversions/PXL_20250611_164427149-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/be10ac10-13e7-4f5f-8178-e5d7683c1754/conversions/PXL_20250611_164429142-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/1889409f-5302-4180-801b-aaefdac91601/conversions/PXL_20250611_164310343-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2733eb80-e5ad-4400-bf3b-7351e87fecdc/conversions/to-be-or-not-to-be-v2.png-(1)-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Plant Providers 2 - [ ![Dingle Nursery](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/dingle-nursery/logo.webp) Dingle Nursery ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/dingle-nursery) - [ ![Derwen Garden Centre](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/derwen-garden-centre/logo.webp) Derwen Garden Centre ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/derwen-garden-centre) ![](/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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