Virtual Chelsea

#MyChelseaGarden winners

The RHS and the BBC’s The One Show shared some of Britain’s best gardens as the winners of 2020 #MyChelseaGarden competition were announced

More than 7,600 entrants across the four categories – Back Garden, Front Garden, Indoor Garden and Kids’ Corner Garden – demonstrated immense pride in their green indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as a love of gardening and an appreciation of growing plants.

The competition judges, The One Show presenter Alex Jones; gardening expert and television presenter Monty Don; RHS Head of Shows judging James Alexander Sinclair, and RHS Director General Sue Biggs had a tough time selecting the final overall winners due to the amazing gardens the nation has been nurturing.

Every judge was moved by stories of the ways in which gardens, both indoors and outdoors, have been a source of comfort, providing a place to escape and a helpful distraction during lockdown.

Back Garden Winner – Terry Winters from Salisbury

Terry said: “I'm lucky to have a garden, many don't. I am even luckier in that I have created my garden from what was a blank canvas back in 2011. It is a personal space, one to escape life's pressures and experience the changing seasons. It connects me to nature and allows me to be creative and keep fit without the need of a gym. It's a shared space as my wife also is a keen gardener. And it's a productive space as we grow our own fruit and veg. Most of all it's a special place – to me anyway.”

What the judges said...

Sue Biggs said: “What the garden means to Terry is an example of what so many people are looking for – an escape from life's pressures at this difficult time. He talks about the garden as a shared space with his wife, as an escape from those pressures, and to me that is lovely.”

Alex Jones said: “It is beautiful.”

Indoor Garden Winner – Corinne Tokley-Packer from Tilbury

Corinne said: “I am a 36-year-old wife and mother of two. I live with my family and many animals, including our four dogs. My houseplants are helping me tremendously at the moment. Unfortunately I have an incurable auto-immune disease called scleroderm/MCTD so I am on the high-risk shielded list. My plants are therapy for me and help provide a peaceful and tranquil environment. They keep me occupied too as I am constantly taking cuttings. I love watching them grow and I’m constantly learning.

“I have always owned houseplants but my collection grew around five years ago. I really missed the garden so we brought the outside in. I have around 150 houseplants. I love each one and some have been named, Fernando the fern, for example!”

What the judges said...

Monty Don said: “She has made the most of the space and the situation she’s in, and it shows real enthusiasm and exuberance.”

James Alexander-Sinclair said: “I love how she uses every possible surface. There's things on the floor, things on tables, there's plants going up, and things hanging down. It’s incredible.”

Kids' Corner Garden Winner – Clare (and Henry Shepherd) from Barnsley

Henry said: “My name is Henry Shepherd, I am seven years old and this is my garden. I designed it so I could walk through it and also sit down and look at the garden around me.
 

“I made bug houses with my grandad last year and I have built more bug houses using bits of sticks and old drain pipe that I found. I wanted to make a tiny pond for visiting animals. I also have a bowl with water in it for a hedgehog that visits the garden.”

What the judges said:

Monty Don said: “It is an utterly charming picture and an utterly charming story. And, as you know, I am a sucker for charm.”

Alex Jones said: “Henry is absolutely adorable. His garden has so many elements to it. For younger viewers watching, I think Henry is a real inspiration. It's exactly where I'd like to see my son at seven years old.”

James Alexander-Sinclair said: “It's got everything you could possible want in a kid’s garden. It's got the lot. Good for Henry.”

Front Garden Winner – Rosemary Fletcher from Dunstable

Rosemary said: “My front garden keeps me busy – weeding, watering, sweeping, propping up, feeding, cutting, shaping – it keeps me fitter than I would otherwise be. It's lovely to look out on from the front windows and always a source of conversation with passers-by who look in at the gate. My garden attracts birds, bees and all sorts of wildlife. It’s a welcoming space for all who come through the gate as well as a private place to be quiet and still.”

What the judges said:

Alex Jones said: “To look at, Rosemary's garden is beautiful. You can see how much care she's taken on every aspect. It's lovely. I just love it.”

The winners should feel so proud, says RHS Director General

Sue Biggs said: “These winning entrants show how wonderful the results can be when someone loves their garden. From Rosemary’s exuberant use of plants making a lush green, formal front garden and Terry’s garden dotted with simple, elegant clipped shrubs, to the charm and delights of Clare and Henry’s Kids’ Corner and Corinne’s brilliant example of bringing the benefits of outdoor gardening inside, all the winners should feel so proud of what they have achieved at home.

“I have loved looking at people’s ‘Chelsea gardens’. Reading how gardening and growing plants have been helping people in these tough times has been incredibly moving too.”

Each winner from each category will receive four tickets for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021* and will be sent a special RHS Award commending their Garden.

Indoor Garden Winner - Corinne Tokley-Packer from Tilbury

Corinne said: “I am a 36 year old wife and mother of two, I live in a normal end of terrace 3 bedroom house with my family and many animals, including our four dogs."

"My houseplants are helping me tremendously at the moment, unfortunately I have a incurable auto immune disease scleroderm/MCTD so I am currently on the high risk shielded list. My plants are therapy for me. My plants proved a peaceful and tranquil environment, they keep me occupied I am constantly taking cuttings, I love watching them grow and I’m constantly learning."

“I have always owned houseplants but my collection grew around five years ago, I was very poorly and was suffering with constant infection that left me housebound, I really missed the garden so we brought the outside in. I have around 150 houseplants at the moment I love each one and some have been named, Fernando the fern for example.”

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