Key themes and trends emerge in the exciting line-up of show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by the Newt in Somerset, will once again shine a spotlight on the ways that gardening and gardens can contribute positively to our health and wellbeing, as well as to help the environment.
Inclusive green spaces for socially deprived communities to connect with nature and gardens for patient recovery in hospital make up some of the 12 Show Gardens announced today by the RHS.
Accessibility and biodiversity
The Royal Entomological Society Garden designed by Chelsea Gold medal winner Tom Massey is inspired by the rich biodiversity found on brownfield sites, areas of wasteland that are highly beneficial to insect life.
The 2023 show will be teeming with gardening inspiration
Horatio’s Garden, designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, is a wheelchair accessible garden for patients recovering from spinal injury. The garden focuses on the evidence-based needs of those in long term hospital settings, providing a beautiful space away from clinical settings which supports their recovery. It will be relocated to Northern General Hospital Sheffield to benefit its patients and staff.
Korean designer Jihae Hwang highlights how a rewilding project in her home country has helped prevent native plants from becoming extinct. A Letter from a Million Years Past garden promotes balanced ecosystems found around the Jiri Mountain region, which grows more than 1,000 native medicinal plants.
Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows and Gardens, said: “It’s no coincidence that the restorative power of gardens and gardening – both for people and the environment – returns as the main theme for 2023's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“So whether you’re looking to create a wildlife haven on your doorstep, for ideas to garden more sustainably or to brighten up your balcony, the 2023 show will be teeming with gardening inspiration to help you bring more plants into your home.”
Further highlights
Other Show Gardens include
The Savills Garden by Mark Gregory, which champions how growing your own food can form the basis of a healthy lifestyle, and
The Nurture Landscapes Garden by Sarah Price, a low carbon garden.
For the second year, several of the Show Gardens are being supported by grant-giving charity,
Project Giving Back. Seven UK-registered charities have been selected for their Show Garden funding and each will create a garden to help raise awareness for their cause.
The Great Pavilion, the jewel in Chelsea’s crown, will feature more than 70 specialist nurseries including Raymond Evison Clematis plus first-time exhibitors mushroom-growers Caley Bros and Hedgehog Plants are creating an epimedium theatre as well as Darren Everest Sweet Peas. A collaboration with Plant Fairs Roadshow will offer a platform for small independent growers new to Chelsea.
Tickets are on sale now
Show Gardens 2023 in full
Centre for Mental Health’s The Balance Garden designed by Jonathan Davies and Steve Williams (Wild City Studio)
Sponsor: Project Giving Back/Centre for Mental Health
Contractor: Stewart Landscape Ltd.
The RBC Brewin Dolphin Garden designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes
Sponsor: RBC Brewin Dolphin
Contractor: GK Wilson
The Centrepoint Garden designed by Cleve West
Sponsor: Project Giving Back/Centrepoint
Contractor: Crocus Ltd.
The Fauna & Flora International Garden designed by Jilayne Rickards
Sponsor: Project Giving Back/Fauna & Flora International
Contractor: Living Landscapes
A Letter from a Million Years Past designed by Jihae Hwang
Sponsor: Hoban Cultural Foundation and MUUM Ltd
Contractor: The Landscape Tailor
Myeloma UK Garden designed by Chris Beardshaw
Sponsor: Project Giving Back/Myeloma UK
Contractor: Cultura
The Nurture Landscapes Garden designed by Sarah Price
Sponsor: Nurture Landscapes
Contractor: Crocus Ltd
Horatio’s Garden designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg
Sponsor: Project Giving Back/Horatio’s Garden
Contractor: Ryan Alexander Associates
The Royal Entomological Society Garden designed by Tom Massey
Sponsor: Project Giving Back/The Royal Entomological Society
Contractor: Landscape Associates
The Samaritans Listening Garden designed by Darren Hawkes
Sponsor: Samaritans/Project Giving Back
Contractor: Landform Consultants Ltd.
The Savills Garden designed by Mark Gregory
Sponsor: Savills
Contractor: Landform Consultants Ltd.
Memoria & GreenAcres Transcendence Garden designed by Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson
Sponsor: Darwin Alternative Investment Management Ltd.
Contractor: The Outdoor Room
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