Sound Garden Designs was established in 2003 by Timothy Atkinson who attended Myrescough college from 2002 to 2006 gaining a HND in Horticulture after first gaining NVQ1 and NVQ2 in Horticulture at Newton Le Willows College.

Timothy Atkinson won his first garden design award at Southport flower show in 2005 with a garden that was designed soley with plants and a tent. With a mock wardian case thrown in, it was with this design that started his passion for Rhododendrons, as the garden was based as travel and Timothy chose to cover the adventures of the Victorian plant hunters like Wilson, Delavayi, Forrest and later Rock, Kingdom-ward and Ludlow & Sherriff, who collected throughout China and the Far East.

In 2007, Timothy and his son Liam took over Penton Mill Rhododendron Nursery which was originally based at Muncaster Castle and relocated it to Burtonwood near Warrington, Cheshire. The Nursery currently boasts a collection of more than 225 different types of Species Rhododendrons, all grown from seed collected in China and the Himalayan areas

Also in 2007, Timothy was asked to help implement a show garden at Tatton Park flower show, designed by BBC gardener of the year (2006), Sue Beesley of Lodge Lane Nursery and Bluebell Cottage and Tim was awarded with Silver Gilt medal.

In 2009  Timothy was asked again to implement a show garden at Tatton Park and this time was awarded with Silver Gilt medal by Sue Beesley.

In 2011 for the first time in 6 years Sound Garden Designs & Rhododendrons designed and built a show garden at Southport flower show which was based on a historical garden restoration in cornwall, this was also done to show off the wide range of species rhododendron that the nursery has to offer and was awarded with a silver medal.

Southport flower show 2011

In 2012 sound Garden Designs & Rhododendrons returned to Southport and produced a garden full of natural materials and planting that was designed with calm in mind and we was again awarded a Siver medal.

Southport flower show 2012

This year we will again be entering a garden at the Southport flower show, this year the garden will be based on St Anthonys Primary School in the area of West Bengal in India, we are hoping to raise funds  to build a new school for the children of that area.

St Anthonys school in Mungpoo, West Bengal