Jo Thompson, the sole female designer of a show garden, is distinctive for this accomplishment.
main avenue
at this year’s
Chelsea Flower Show
He has mentioned that substantial obstacles hinder women’s progress at the event.
The
celebrated garden designer
She vowed not to participate in Chelsea Fashion Show anymore following her 10th appearance in 2019, citing the shortage of sponsors, inadequate facilities for women, exclusion of minors from attending, and outdated mindsets as factors contributing to the disparity between male and female fashion designers.
Out of the six major display gardens showcased at this year’s event,
Chelsea Flower Show
, five of the spaces are designed by men. In the small show garden category, three gardens are designed by women, while seven of the spaces on display have been planned and executed by male designers.
Talking with Alice Vincent during a live recording of the podcast
Why Women Grow
Hosted by Crocus on Monday (May 19th), Thompson stated, “Many women aspire to design in the gardens, and I wish more sponsors would back this concept.”
Thompson observed that the membership of the Society of Garden Designers consists equally of 50 percent men and women. “This shouldn’t just be about having one woman among six men here,” she stated emphatically. “That isn’t right.”
When asked how the
Royal Horticultural Society
Thompson stated, “To make Chelsea more inviting for female designers, it would be helpful practically speaking if there were women’s restrooms available on the first day of setup. I prefer not having to walk past a line of men using the urinals.”
The garden designer mentioned that she has toughened up when collaborating with male contractors to ensure she is treated as a serious professional: “Being seen as weak won’t cut it,” she stated. “It’s simple enough just to agree, ‘Sure, let’s go with your approach since it seems simpler.’ That tends to be the default expectation. However, I’ve learned from experience that whenever I aim for things exactly how I envision them, I’m often labeled as ‘overbearing’—or subjected to far harsher terms starting with ‘B.'”
You must remain true to your beliefs,” she said. “And that demands an unyielding resolve.
Thompson mentioned that the event presents challenges for mothers as well. To ensure safety, children under five years old are not permitted at the venue. Although infants carried by hand are “allowed but discouraged” according to the Royal Horticultural Society guidelines, strollers, prams, and baby carriages are strictly prohibited within the show area.
“I was lucky enough to have a supportive family who did look after my children when I first started doing Chelsea,” Thompson reflected. “But if you don’t have that support, it’s almost impossible.”
This year, Thompson’s show garden is inspired by the work of the south east social enterprise The Glasshouse who offer horticultural training to women based in UK prisons.
The garden, which features an elliptical pavilion with opaque screens and a “surprise river” water feature, will be donated to the women’s prison HMP Downview in Banstead, Surrey, when the show closes on 24 May.
Thompson explained that her design was motivated by the total absence of privacy and natural surroundings in prisons. “These basic elements that we often overlook,” she noted. “So, drawing from their requests, I returned home and developed a personal area for these women that still connected them visually to an outdoor garden.”
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