2014 RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW



Gardening is at its most fashionable at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. A catwalk of colour and creativity, the brightest new ideas, the latest trends and the pinnacle of design make this show the one the world wants to see.

What to look out for:

·         Over 500 exhibitors from all around the world, including Show Gardens, Artisan Gardens and Fresh Gardens. There are over 100 exhibits in the Great Pavilion, predominantly from nurseries and florists, and around 250 trade stands across the site. 

·         Anniversaries in the Great Pavilion including Hillers who will be celebrating their 150th year, Perennial who are 175 years old and South West in Bloom will be 50.

·         New exhibitors to the Great Pavilion, which include Drointon Nurseries, Creative Garden Design, City of Cape Town and Brighter Blooms.

·         Birmingham City Council who return to the Great Pavilion with an exhibit featuring trenches and poppies that will commemorate WWI.

·         Hooks Green Herbs who will be exhibiting a ‘Peter Rabbit’ themed garden within the Great Pavilion, celebrating Beatrix Potter’s famous creations including a mock-up of the infamous vegetable garden.

·         The M&S Great Pavilion exhibit, designed by Sallis Chandler Landscape Design, and will highlight the commercial production of cut flowers and the harmonious relationship this process has to beneficial Insects and pollinators in the UK and around the world.

·         The new Discovery area in the Great Pavilion which replaces RHS Environment and will be full of scientific and educational exhibits.

·         The Artisan Retreats which will be returning to the Plateau in Ranelagh Gardens for the third year.

·         For the first time in 30 years, Alan Titchmarsh is designing and building a show feature. ‘From the Moors to the Sea’ will celebrate both the 50th anniversary of the UK’s biggest community gardening campaign – RHS Britain in Bloom, as well as Alan’s own 50 years in horticulture.

·         Jon Wheatley is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of RHS Britain in Bloom in the Great Pavilion. Fifty Golden Years of Bloom in the South West will be a horticultural spectacle that reflects the diversity of Bloom activity in the regions. The garden is delivered in collaboration between South West in Bloom and Beautiful Fife.

·         The No Man’s Land: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Garden to Mark the Centenary of World War One, designed by Charlotte Rowe for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity which marks the centenary of the First World War taking place in 2014. It reflects on how damaging effects of the war were felt, not only by the people involved and their families but also by the landscape on which the battles were fought.

·         The Rich brothers who have designed a Show garden for Irish energy provider Bord Na Mona. Two of the youngest RHS Chelsea Show Garden designers at this year’s show, their garden is inspired by the different forms and elements of a star and star constellations and will be relocated to Beechwood Autistic College, in Cardiff, after the show.

·         The BrandAlley Garden which was inspired by designer Paul Hervey-Brookes’ time restoring a Renaissance garden in Italy. This formal garden, takes elements from three major evolutions in garden design from the Renaissance period.

·         Matthew Childs, who will make his debut at RHS Chelsea with a garden for Brewin Dolphin. His contemporary garden design represents possibilities and nurturing potential for the future.

·         Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson who return to RHS Chelsea designing their second garden for Cloudy Bay. This year’s garden reflects the tasting notes of the Cloudy Bay wines.

·         The Telegraph Garden, designed by Tomasso del Buono, an Italian garden for the modern era which combines the guiding principles of Italy’s great historical tradition. 

·         Adam Frost with his design for Homebase, inspired by his father’s passion for the outdoors. The Homebase Garden – Time to Reflect demonstrates how a person’s memories can help to create a multi-purpose family space.

·         The M&G Garden, designed by Cleve West, which blends timeless aspects of ancient garden design whilst drawing on the established canon of British planting and craftsmanship.

·         Chelsea first timer Hugo Bugg, who has designed the RBC Waterscape Garden – Embrace the Rain for Royal Bank of Canada. This garden illustrates global water issues while demonstrating practical solutions for home gardeners and commercial landscapes.

·         Matthew Keightley’s first RHS Chelsea Show Garden design for Help for Heroes. The Hope on the Horizon garden represents the complex and progressive path towards recovery experienced by wounded, injured and sick personnel, veterans and their families.

·         John Everiss who has designed his first RHS Chelsea Flower Show Fresh garden. The Reach Out garden for New Ground CIC aims to show how horticulture can enrich and improve the lives of young people.

·         The Shrouds garden in the Fresh category which has been designed by Helen Elks-Smith to draw the public’s attention to the dangers of the Oak Processionary Moth and encourage public vigilance in reporting suspected infestations.

·         The Dial a Flight Potters Garden designed by Francesca Murrell and Emma Page. This garden commemorates those who fought in World War I and takes inspiration from the history of the recently restored Farnham Pottery at Wrecclesham, in Surrey.

·         The Woodsman’s Hut garden designed by student of Garden Design at SRUC, Edinburgh. This garden focuses on sustainability and the idea of man living at one with nature.

No comments: