Chelsea gives balconies their chance to bloom

WE’RE used to seeing designers pushing boundaries to scoop a coveted medal at the Chelsea Flower Show. This year they might not even need a garden to stand a chance of winning.

Balconies will be recognised for the first time in a nod to flat-dwellers who discovered their green-fingers during lockdown. It is something of a contrast to the huge designs at Chelsea in recent years including the reproduction of a Tuscan quarry and another that came with a canal lock.

The Royal Horticultural Society, which organises the show, has also introduced a ‘container garden’ category for those lacking outdoor space – but not ambition. The new categories will feature in this year’s event, which will take place in autumn for the first time in 108 years.

The showcase, from September 21-26, will also feature several gardens with a medical theme, including a tribute to modern-day nursing.