Where Nature Navigates - 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%2Fwhere-nature-navigates) [ 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%2Fwhere-nature-navigates) - [ 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) ![A naturalistic pocket garden with a dark grey and white canal lock gate, marked '4', partially submerged in water, surrounded by purple flowers and lush green wetland plants, alongside a narrow gravel path.](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c6affb34-5bac-4f2a-a47f-68286c2cca69/conversions/PXL_20260708_073118512.MP-gallery.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-badminton-flower-show-2026) Pocket Planting ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-gold-medal/icon.webp) Gold Medal Where Nature Navigates ======================== Designed by Alison Johnston At a glance Show RHS Badminton Flower Show Year 2026 Category Pocket Planting Plant List Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- More than just a route, a canal is a corridor of connection between industrialised towns and waterside habitats. This thriving ecosystem is represented here through a towpath inspired by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, a 20-mile waterway in northern England. Using self-seeded plants salvaged from both the designer's and sponsor's properties, the garden demonstrates that a landscape doesn't need to be manicured to be magnificent. Instead, it celebrates the low-maintenance, wilder verges of *Digitalis* and *Urtica dioica*, as well as resilient trees such as *Crategus monogyna*. The border pays tribute to the Canal & River Trust, the UK's largest canal charity, whose volunteers carefully nurture and protect these environments. Visitors are invited to leave with a sense of the gentle, unforced beauty found at the water's edge and to appreciate the canal as a vital green artery where human care and wild wonder meet. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-gold-medal/icon.webp) Gold Medal RHS The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ ![Alison Johnston](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/alison-johnston/profile_photo.webp?v=0beea861-0bb9-4b2a-8191-0247ad034f73) Alison Johnston Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/alison-johnston) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c6affb34-5bac-4f2a-a47f-68286c2cca69/conversions/PXL_20260708_073118512.MP-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/1adc8521-b065-4594-8356-02674f7c480a/conversions/PXL_20260708_073146587-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c8590a95-f326-4003-9918-41a0d1525057/conversions/PXL_20260708_073140379-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2874127b-e6d4-4d48-9f1c-655dd00650ef/conversions/PXL_20260708_162123346-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/6bab4e67-ada9-435c-b533-8ca0447cb737/conversions/PXL_20260708_162128420.MP-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5b4a4244-a91e-4ce2-b0af-11a09ca70e29/conversions/PXL_20260708_162134375-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c27b5d87-1b81-4db9-aa96-8c5ded7aaeeb/conversions/PXL_20260708_073103174-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/96ee8e54-2f71-40bf-8120-7bc3189f8b04/conversions/IMG_5197-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/cbc7d741-015b-4fd8-9631-1e73a01223e6/conversions/IMG_5198-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/e7e5c7f7-605c-4f41-a031-be9aaf282250/conversions/IMG_5199-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/95a7320d-5e5e-4ace-9183-325c5b107c2c/conversions/IMG_5201-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c5a401a8-2828-4dd3-89a2-3452e0e5593c/conversions/IMG_5202-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/bb6c7142-fabf-43b5-82c6-7fa5bf42960d/conversions/IMG_5200-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/20798bc0-5d7d-4eca-88cf-5601896f3947/conversions/where-nature-navigates-gallery.webp) ![]() / Hero image Set as hero Photo: Planting Plant list ------------ Click on a plant to enlarge or purchase. ### Key Plants 5 ![Anthriscus sylvestris](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3563b50b-e41e-4b26-9c09-291c12de926b/conversions/anthriscus-sylvestris-thumbnail.webp) Anthriscus sylvestris ![Crataegus monogyna](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/95011114-299c-4d3a-81ed-5e553468a189/conversions/crataegus-monogyna-thumbnail.webp) Crataegus monogyna ![Digitalis purpurea](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/b1f8657c-2051-4592-a732-c5fbef7de61e/conversions/digitalis-thumbnail.webp) Digitalis purpurea ![Mentha aquatica](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3034dab0-d74e-46c7-8b3a-7fbabd381bdd/conversions/mentha-aquatica-thumbnail.webp) Mentha aquatica ![Urtica dioica](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3acb9f5b-39c9-462c-8140-7150084f39d0/conversions/nettle-thumbnail.webp) Urtica dioica ![]() Buy this plant → ![](/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. Browse - [ All gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charities ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) Contribute - [ Add a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) - [ Suggest a correction ](https://gardensdb.com/help) About - [ What is GardensDB? ](https://gardensdb.com/help) - [ Contact ](https://gardensdb.com/help) - [ Help & FAQs ](https://gardensdb.com/help) © 2026 GardensDB. A community-driven catalogue.