The first look at plans for Chelsea 2018
RHS hope new Chelsea 2018 category will inspire public to be more creative
Next year’s Chelsea will see a new garden design category introduced to provide visitors and TV viewers with more attainable ideas. ‘Space to Grow’ will showcase eight innovative designs underpinned by inspirational trends and take-home messages.
The new, themed section replaces ‘Fresh Gardens’, previously the stage for contemporary small gardens. The RHS hopes the change will also promote the health-giving benefits growing plants can bring.
Entries include ‘Urban Flow’ by Tony Woods, illustrating the conservation of rainwater and use of environmentally considerate design. Kate Gould’s ‘West End Secret Garden’ is a modern interpretation of a London square, while ‘The Silent Pool Gin Garden’ by David Neale depicts a garden for a city-living couple.
Headlining the 10 large show gardens is Sarah Price, with a garden for Chelsea’s main sponsor M&G Investments, that evokes a romantic Mediterranean landscape, while last year’s public-vote winner Chris Beardshaw creates an idyllic woodland garden for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Overseen by new show manager Katherine Potsides, Chelsea 2018 will have more than 90 exhibitors. “We’ve also made changes to the show layout, so the new ‘Space to Grow’ gardens will run along the entire length of Hospital Way,” said Katherine.
l Chelsea Flower Show 2018 is on May 22-26. Visit www.rhs.org. uk/shows or tel: 0844 995 9664.