The 10 metre by 12 metre From Freedom to the Future garden is currently being jointly created in Leeds and in South Africa.

The finished garden will reflect both English and South African plant life and the designers are hoping it'll be in with a chance of winning a coveted gold medal at the Chelsea show.

The 2004 show at Chelsea starts on Tuesday 25 May.

After the show is finished the garden will be re-assembled in Leeds.

Hear senior reporter Spencer Stokes at the Leeds City Council nursery

Leeds City Council are currently nuturing some of the plants to be used in the garden under warming growing lights.

Plants growing for the garden

The plants include two large olive trees that will form the backdrop to the garden.

Andrew Middlemass is the garden co-ordinator for Leeds City Council. His brief is to bring together two garden worlds - the formal English lay-out and a more exuberant South African style.

A central garden walkway of white stone is intended to reflect both the white Portland stone of Leeds Civic Hall and the rocks that Nelson Mandela worked during his incarceration on Robbin Island.

: See pictures from Spencer's trip to Durban in 2002