NSS did not visit the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show this year, which was still on as we went to press in May. From the television and newspaper coverage it was clear there was a lot of stone in the Show gardens again as the natural hard landscaping material remains as popular as ever – not that much of it is actually mentioned by name in the reports.

Some of our readers have sent us information about their contributions to the gardens, including Lovell Stone Group, based in Langton Matravers on the isle of Purbeck in Dorset.

Simon Hart, the Managing Director, tells us: “The First Garden we supplied material to was the Homebase Garden, Time to Reflect, designed by Adam Frost. It won a gold medal.

“All the stone for this came from our Chicksgrove Quarry near Salisbury and was processed at our factory in Langton Matravers. We worked closely with Adam Frost and started looking at different ideas at the end of last year.

“In total, more than 60tonnes of Chicksgrove stone were supplied.

“A water feature runs through the garden, the water coming from a 2tonne block of Chicksgrove stone with a hole drilled through it. As well as feature stones, Chicksgrove paving, radial steps, walling and architectural masonry was supplied.

“The second garden we supplied all the stone to was the Silver-Gilt winning Cloudy Bay Garden designed by Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam of the Wilson McWilliam Studio.

“Purbeck stone from our quarries at Langton Matravers was supplied. Again, this had a water feature running through it with a rill formed from Purbeck stone. There was a space to put bottles of Cloudy Bay wine in to chill.

“Purbeck paving and steps were also supplied and we worked with Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam to create a new type of bespoke walling, which has received a great deal of interest at the show.”

Lovell Purbeck, as the company then was, supplied stone to a gold medal winning garden and a silver gilt medal winner two years ago. This year’s successes reinforce a growing reputation among the country’s top garden designers by what is now Lovell Stone Group (renamed because it has taken over more quarries and now offers more than Purbeck limestone alone). Lovell is recognised for supplying bespoke stone products to meet the designers’ exacting specifications. The success at Chelsea is a real credit to the hard work of the whole team.

The Cloudy Bay garden also featured the work of another stone company, Lapicida, with outlets in Harrogate and London. At the heart of the garden was a sculpture made by Lapicida with the artist Diego Fortunato. It is a 2m high luminarium (Latin for light or lamp) carved from veined Italian Carrara marble. It’s elegant, contemporary form reflects the sound waves of the word light spoken by Diego.

Cosentino tells us there was also a chance to see its new surface material, Dekton. It was featured as worktops on the Gaze Burvill modular ‘A la Carte’ outdoor kitchen on Main Avenue along with a new range of outdoor appliances from Sub-Zero & Wolf. RHS Gold award winner Thomas Hoblyn was behind the concept and the planting on the stand.

Dekton was chosen for its ability to withstand being scorched, scratched, stained and frozen and because of the versatility of its finish, which can make it look like stone, wood or even metal.