News from the gardening world
Health and environment to be key themes at this year’s Chelsea show
Personal wellbeing and care within local communities and the wider landscape are to be key themes at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. One of the main exhibits this year will be the RHS Garden for Friendship, which will promote why gardens and gardening is good for mental health.
Award-winning designer Jo Thompson will team up with BBC Radio 2's Zoe Ball to create an urban street showcasing a mix of spaces, including front gardens, balconies, windowboxes and community spaces, all aimed at bringing people together. Zoe has suggested a number of her favourite plants, which will feature in the garden.
“It will be brimming with accessible ideas that don’t cost much, but collectively can make a big difference to where we live,” said Jo. “It’s brilliant having Zoe involved as she’s such an enthusiastic gardener, and we’re both excited about bringing this garden to life.” After the show a national competition will see one NHS Mental Health Trust winning the plants and some of the landscape to create a garden for patients.
Show headliners the M&G Garden will this year focus on the creation of a sustainable urban green space to improve the quality of life and health for city dwellers. Designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, the garden will contain trees chosen for their tolerance of hot summers and wet winters, interspersed with unusual and delicate planting fringing a naturalistic pool. Afterwards the garden will be relocated to a community-led housing scheme.
A number of gardens in the Discovery Zone will spotlight different ways in which horticulture can positively impact health, happiness and community.
The benefits of indoor plants will also be highlighted in the new Houseplant Studios.
The RHS will also stage the RHS Plant Health Garden, highlighting the International Year of Plant Health, which will explore some of the threats on our doorstep and inspire gardeners to promote healthy gardening practices. It's designed by BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost, in collaboration with industry partners, such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020 runs from TuesdaySaturday, May 19-23. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/shows for more details and ticket info.