AN AMATEUR gardener from Ledsham has designed a show garden for next week’s Royal Horticultural Society show at Tatton Park.

Dori Miller has designed the garden for Oxfam, following her award-winning 2010 Back-to-Back garden design to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Chester choir A Handbag of Harmonies, of which she is a member.

Oxfam has commissioned the choir to create an anthem to reflect the garden’s theme of combating climate change.

Written by Helen Newall, with music by Matt Baker, the choir will sing When the Waters Rise, the name of the garden and the anthem, on the opening day of the show, Wednesday, July 20.

The garden reflects the plight of millions of women farmers in poor countries who have to battle every day against the effects of climate change to grow food.

Dori said: “Like most gardeners, I am very aware of how plants and food are grown, and how much work, care and dedication go into that.

“ I wanted to do something which showed how women in Cheshire care and are in solidarity with women in poorer countries who are battling against the effects of climate change.”

Special features include floating gardens and specially designed willow baskets that can be raised above the flood line.

Willow ducks symbolise how farmers in Bangladesh have adapted to climate change by keeping ducks, who can survive frequent floods, rather than chickens.

Dori has worked with her son Howard on the design and her friends and neighbours have grown plants for the garden.

Children and teachers from Brookside Primary School in Ellesmere Port have been growing plants and making floating rafts.

The RHS Tatton Show runs from July 20-24. Tickets are available by calling 0844 338 7505.