Olivier Blanc and Charlotte Salt created the Henri le Worm community garden at the recent RHS Hampton Court Flower Show to educate children on the importance of healthy eating, local produce, and engaging with nature.
At the centre of the garden was an outdoor SieMatic demonstration kitchen featuring an L-shaped island unit wrapped in Corian® on which famous chef Raymond Blanc OBE prepared food using ingredients taken directly from the garden. The Henri le Worm Community Garden was received very well at this popular event, winning a Bronze medal and being honoured by a visit from HRH the Duchess of Cornwall.
Overseen by horticulturist Chris Collins, the garden was divided into sections around the outdoor kitchen area, including a recipe garden, an edible shed, a livestock area, and a demonstration garden for schools. Vibrant colours and inviting (even edible in many cases) displays filled the garden, encouraging children to learn about where food comes from and to enjoy its preparation.
A key focal point of the garden was the sleek Corian® work surface, with an integrated Mixa® Sink. The material’s seamless and formable qualiies allow for the utmost flexibility in design. Corian® is completely solid and non-porous, so stains and moisture do not penetrate the surface making it the perfect choice for an outdoor environment.
The Henri le Worm garden was modelled after an app of the same name created by Olivier Blanc and Charlotte Salt, designed to educate children and adults alike on the importance and fun of healthy eating, by using a combination of games, facts, music and characters. The app also includes some of Raymond Blanc’s own signature recipes.
Garden and app founder Olivier Blanc comments, “We were so excited to have the opportunity to create a garden at Hampton Court. Our aim was to create an interactive children’s garden that was both fun and educational. We wanted to share all the delights a garden can hold for young ones, from the produce you can grow to the creatures you will discover. It is amazing to share all the wonderful knowledge you can learn from Mother Nature. We were delighted when Corian® agreed to supply a worktop for the outdoor kitchen. We were looking for something beautiful yet durable and we weren't disappointed, the finished product was perfect."
Over the past year, the Henri le Worm team have been developing the Henri le Worm Community Garden Project, a series of communal gardens fostered by local schools to teach lessons in science, mathematics, cooking, and gardening. The first garden will be in located Woolwich after it is transferred from Hampton Court.
