Fettercairn:

The Angels’ Share

The Garden.

Designed for young theatrical couple with a love of whisky and wildlife, who grew up in the Cairngorms.

The garden is inspired by the term, the Angels' Share, the proportion of liquid “shared” with the air during whisky barrel aging, and its journey through copper into the barrel.

The garden design is underpinned by the Good Ancestor philosophy and the belief that even a small space can be transformed for sharing with nature and friends.

  • The balcony is a flexible space designed for sharing with people and nature.

    The key feature is a stunning ‘vertical stream’ Inspired by whisky’s journey from distillation to barrel aging. Water flows from a section of a recycled distillery cooling ring over a copper wall and repurposed barrel staves.

    Upcycled copper pipe framework also references distilleries whilst mirroring the property’s interior exposed pipework. 

    Reclaimed timber planters and seating, toasted black, further reference whisky barrel aging. 

    The furniture’s modularity creates a reconfigurable space for sharing while a misting system evokes whisky evaporation - the angels’ share. 

    The rear wall is rendered using a sustainable natural lime base.

    The floor is made of sustainable, recyclable cork oak. It is lightweight, noise damping and soft enough under foot to prevent the odd dropped glass from smashing.

    Learn more about the people who created the features.

  • The planting scheme moves from grassland to woodland to reflect the sponsor’s process of planting 13,000 oak trees on the distillery estate.

    Whisky hues and copper tones with contrasting colours travel from grassland to woodland into water. Textural balance and dappled shade connect the couple to their family homes in the Cairngorms. 

    The colour scheme is inspired by the Angel’s Share tartan and has been refined to support pollinators and the birds they in turn attract.

    • Betula pendula (silver birch): a key structural plant that supports biodiversity and the idea of sharing by providing a habitat for the rare and unique Kentish glory moth – a moth species that is now only found in two places in the highlands of Scotland, one of which is the Cairngorms

    • Betula nana(dwarf birch): a nationally scarce UK native. It serves as a food source for both the larvae and adults of a rare moth, Swammerdamia passerella, and for the leaf mining pygmy moth Stigmella betulicola

    • Dryopteris erythrosora - copper coloured fern compliments the colour palette and provides evergreen structure 

      Ajuga reptans, a Scottish native perennial ground cover which provides for various pollinators

    Colour is provided by Irises and Geums. Chosen to reflect the pops of bright colour contained in the Angels’ Share Tartan.

    View the full plant list here.

  • The planters and furniture are made from reclaimed, responsibly sourced wood and the cushions are made from recycled materials.

    Recyclable cork oak flooring provides a light, hardwearing surface that also guards against slips and trips.

    Lime render provides a breathable eco-friendly alternative to cement

    Recyclable copper pipes and features, reclaimed where possible, give the garden a clear use beyond its own life.

  • The Angels’ Share garden will be relocated in its entirety for permanent display at the Fettercairn Distillery, a location where it can continue to be enjoyed by the public touring the distillery.

    The Betula pendula sits in a Versailles style planter, so it can be easily removed and planted in a natural setting that supports Kentish Glory and other pollinators when it outgrows the balcony. Inspired by the sponsor's planting of 13,000 oaks for future barrel wood. It forms part of the future facing “good ancestor” philosophy behind the garden.

Full Plant List

Garden Gallery

The Sponsor:

Fettercairn Whisky

Fettercairn is a Highland single malt whisky crafted in the foothills of the Cairngorms, which is often referred to as ‘The Garden of Scotland’. Fettercairn is a place where crystal clear mountain water flows through forest and field – a land made for whisky making, where innovation has been gently nurtured for two centuries.

This garden brings to life the Scottish rural landscape that surrounds the distillery and includes nods to the ingenious copper cooling ring, which drenches their stills, so that only the finest vapours rise – creating the distinctive tropical house style.

Find Out More

The People and Businesses Behind the Garden

May Starey

Garden Design

Hi, I’m May and I’ve been passionate about plants and gardens since playing and helping in my Mum’s allotments as a child. Having trained in fine art and sculpture with an initial career as an award winning picture editor and video producer. I retrained in Garden Design over three years.

Because of this varied background, my gardens combine a strong sense of the structural with a deep understanding of the natural world. I create spaces that delight in form, excel in function and are tied together with a strong narrative thread.

Today I combine my garden design practice with teaching the subject at Capel Manor College (where I trained). I hope that both help me to inspire the same love of nature and design that I have in others.

I currently work across and around London and the SE. Depending on your project requirements, I can work further afield.

Whatever your project, big or small, I'd love to hear from you.

Get In Touch

The Team Behind May

  • Bob Starey

    CCO (Chief Cheerleading Officer)

  • Lesley Starey

    CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer)

  • Julia Weeden

    Project Manager

  • Andrew Sanders

    Marketing, Emotional Support (also catering)

Hard Landscaping & Specialist Services

Water Feature

Starting as a plantsman at 13, I gained experience in nurseries and landscaping before founding my own landscape design and build company. My work included a commission for Channel 4’s Big Breakfast and a major project in France, where I discovered a passion for creating water features and outdoor art

Lead Contractor

Working on The Angels’ Share with May Starey at Chelsea has been a rewarding experience, bringing together craftsmanship, collaboration and attention to detail. At Ikigai London, we focus on purposeful design and considered execution, creating outdoor spaces that feel refined and built to last.

Planters & Furniture

Hampshire-based Robert Rose Carpentry specialises in bespoke reclaimed wood furniture and joinery. We proudly crafted the sustainable, durable, and characterful wooden seating and planters for The Angels’ Share garden at Chelsea 2026.

Irrigation & Lighting

Landscapeplus is a trade only supplier of lighting, irrigation, and water feature systems. We build long-term, trust-based relationships with professionals to help them create beautiful gardens, and we proudly support the Fettercairn: The Angels’ Share balcony garden.

Cushions

Foggy Bumble creates bespoke soft furnishings and furniture, combining creativity with craftsmanship. She is proud to have been asked to make cushions for May, and play a small part in The Angels’ Share Garden sponsored by Fettercairn Distillery, where she also works. Find them on Instagram and Facebook

Render Materials

From the heart of the Dordogne, Saint-Astier® has produced pure natural hydraulic lime, formulated limes and technical mortars for four generations, supporting heritage conservation and delivering natural, healthy and sustainable solutions for the buildings of tomorrow.

Render Materials

Kingley Vale Lime and Flint have supplied St Astier EcoMortar Lime Plaster for this exhibit. They are suppliers of Flint, Lime and Specialist Building Products for Historic and Modern Construction throughout the UK and beyond.

Rendering

Murphy’s Lath & Lime creates exceptional lime plastering for refined interiors and heritage spaces. Using Saint-Astier Lime, we blend timeless craftsmanship with precision to deliver breathable, elegant finishes of enduring beauty, performance and distinction for architects, designers and private clients

Flooring

Exclusively provided by Playsmart, Corkeen is a sustainable carbon negative cork-based safety surface made from the renewable outer bark of the cork oak tree. It delivers a durable and renewable surfacing solution combining natural aesthetics with exceptional performance

Compost

RocketGro are a Peat-Free compost producer based at their 6000 acre farm in Somerset, where they develop 100% sustainable, Organic Approved, British compost. RocketGro runs on their own 100% renewable energy. They are delighted to help support The Angels’ Share Garden at Chelsea.

Videography & Photography

My Perfect Cousin is a creative production company specialising in brand-led visual content. For The Angel’s Share, we are developing and producing a cinematic short documentary, in collaboration with May Starey and Fettercairn Whisky, capturing the journey to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Plant Suppliers

Contact Me

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly. I‘m excited to learn about your project!