Nature
is leaving its imprint on this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, featuring gardens that highlight wild habitats, robust landscapes, and nature-inspired plantings.
On Monday, celebrities will get their first look at this year’s exhibition before the King and Queen visit the yearly horticultural showcase at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. This event celebrates everything related to gardening.
Celebrities such as Cate Blanchett, Dame
Joanna Lumley
David Tennant was among those who got an early look at the renowned event, alongside Sir.
David Suchet
and Zoe Ball.
TV garden expert Alan Titchmarsh attended the event and encouraged attendees to watch out for Colorado beetles, which present a “devastating” risk to Britain’s potato sector — noting that this marked the country’s initial infestation in half a century back in 2023.
Dragon’s Den star
Deborah Meaden
referred to as “a bit of a stride” in eco-friendly advancement at this year’s exhibition following the presentation of the accolade for the top sustainable gardening item to Sneeboer Trading’s garden scoop.
Designers mention that numerous gardens this year exhibit a “highly natural feel,” reflecting people’s desire for a stronger bond with nature. These spaces often incorporate features like gravel pathways seamlessly merging into plantings, pavements covered in moss with vegetation sprouting through them, and include indigenous flora such as foxglove and cow parsley showcased at the exhibition.
Nigel Dunnett, who created the Hospitalfield Arts Garden using sand to mimic the Arbroath coastline where the organization operates, mentioned that this method of growing gardens in sand has become quite trendy recently. This trend emerges amid the UK experiencing a dry spring and facing increasing challenges from extreme weather conditions linked to climate change.
He mentioned that his garden was “teeming with plants,” aiming to cram as many flora into the area as possible.
“That’s quite typical for many gardens; they tend to exude a strong sense of nature,” he commented.
Crafting this enveloping natural environment is something folks are truly longing for, instead of harsh urban settings.
It’s this bond with nature that countless individuals are currently forfeiting, and urban gardens and public spaces present genuine chances to reconnect people with it.
After the exhibition, the garden will be moved to a primary school in Arbroath, and he mentioned there’s an obligation to link kids back with nature, ensuring that coming generations can experience the inspiration that ignites a passion for gardening.
The Wildlife Trusts’ rainforest exhibit at this year’s show stands out as one of the most authentic representations, focusing on the Atlantic temperate rainforest ecosystem. This type of forest formerly blanketed the western coastlines of Britain, the entire island of Ireland, and the Isle of Man. However, due to significant changes over time, what used to cover around a fifth of these lands now only makes up merely 1% of their area.
The garden showcases the initiatives undertaken by the trusts, working alongside insurance provider Aviva, aimed at restoring and safeguarding the habitat. It also demonstrates how eco-conscious gardening practices can support British wildlife.
Zoe Claymore, the creator of the garden, stated: “Our aim is to achieve a beautifully flawed design and to honor happiness and existence.”
She characterized the garden as organized chaos, drawing attention to crooked trees that exemplify nature’s toughness. She showcased indigenous flora and fauna like Welsh poppies, bluebells, cowslips, and foxgloves, with mosses and ferns being highlighted as the true highlights of her display.
“True perfection is more untamed, as it doesn’t involve uniformity in gardening; rather, it’s about the happiness and bond that plants create for you and nourish your spirit,” she explained.
I believe a more untamed garden better represents what it means to be human.
Rob Stoneman, who directs landscape recovery at the Wildlife Trusts, noted that the garden included plants like cow parsley—commonly found along hedges—that people often regard as weeds yet he considers “beautiful.”
He mentioned that from the Victorian era onwards, it has been recognized that gardens and green areas can introduce elements of the countryside into urban environments, thereby enhancing individuals’ physical and psychological well-being.
However, a standard garden center was brimming with plastics and pesticides and had turned into an unnatural environment.
“I’m not saying all of that is bad, but actually, what we need to do is return back to this concept of bringing the countryside back into your piece of green space because you’ll get the benefits from that.”
He mentioned that the garden was free from peat and insecticides, featuring native trees and plants, aimed at demonstrating how to “incorporate wilderness into our urban areas.”
In another part of the event, dogs were granted a special opportunity to attend the Chelsea Flower Show, where Monty Don’s dog Ned was one of those exploring the designated “dog garden.” This space was developed collaboratively between the TV presenter, the organizers from the Royal Horticultural Society, and BBC Radio 2.
Mr. Don disclosed that a fox had spent the night in the garden during the weekend and pointed out several notable aspects, such as a doghouse where pets can “lie on the couches,” a gate providing access to an “imaginative countryside” for strolls, and a lawn that appears “already quite ruined.”
I had always stated that I would absolutely not, under any conditions, participate in a show garden, particularly not at Chelsea, but here we are,
RHS
He was convinced when dogs were brought into the discussion, and admitted he couldn’t resist the mix of dogs and gardens, something he has always enjoyed,” he stated.
So right from the beginning, this garden was designed with dog owners in mind, and I aimed to keep it quite straightforward. There isn’t any deeper message or concealed narrative here. The garden simply reflects what it is. You see exactly what it offers.
The garden, which won’t undergo evaluation, will be moved to a location near Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Mr. Don commented, “Our stay is only a week, but ideally we’ll remain at Battersea indefinitely.”
The Independent stands out as the globe’s premier source of unbiased journalism, offering international news, insights, and evaluation tailored for those with an independent mindset. With a vast worldwide audience comprising people who appreciate our reliable perspective and dedication to fostering positive transformation, we continue to thrive. Today more than ever, our purpose—driving meaningful change—is crucial.
