Our Top 6 Gardens at Chelsea Flower Show 2024
We were very excited to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, as it is one of the most prestigious horticultural events in the world. Organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the show takes place annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, in Chelsea, London, usually in late May.
The show is renowned for its elaborate and innovative garden designs. The displays are organised into several categories, including Show Gardens, Sanctuary Gardens, Feature Gardens, Container Gardens, Balcony Gardens and All about Plants.
Gardens and exhibits at the Chelsea Flower Show are judged by expert panels, and there are gold, silver-gilt, silver, and bronze medals awarded in different categories. There are special awards, such as Best in Category, Best Construction Award and the RHS People’s Choice Award, that are also highly sought after.
In addition to garden displays, the Chelsea Flower Show features a wide array of floral exhibits in the Great Pavilion. This massive marquee houses stunning displays by nurseries, florists and plant societies, showcasing a diverse range of plants and flowers. Many new plant varieties are unveiled at the show, making it an important event for the horticultural industry.
The Chelsea Flower Show has a significant impact on gardening trends and plant sales. Winning plants and designs often set new trends and inspire gardeners worldwide. The show also emphasises environmental sustainability, promoting eco-friendly gardening practices, innovative materials and the conservation of plant species.
The Chelsea Flower Show is a key event in the British social calendar, and many visitors enjoy dressing up for their visit. The event is extensively reported in the media, including the BBC, which provides in-depth coverage and behind-the-scenes insights.
Over the years, the Chelsea Flower Show has seen many memorable moments, such as the debut of iconic garden designs, visits from the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the introduction of revolutionary gardening techniques. Each year it continues to evolve, reflecting changes in society, horticulture, and environmental awareness.
In summary, the Chelsea Flower Show is more than just a flower show; it is a celebration of horticultural excellence, creativity, and innovation. It brings together the best in gardening and landscape design, making it a must-visit event for anyone who is passionate about plants, gardens and sustainability.
Our Top 6 Gardens at Chelsea Flower Show 2024
Muscular Dystrophy UK – Forest Bathing Garden
1. MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY UK- FOREST BATHING GARDEN
We love Ula Maria’s Forest Bathing Garden. She truly deserved a Gold medal and the Best Show Garden award. It is also great to see a new name bringing fresh garden design ideas to the show.
Maria's garden is inspired by the ancient Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, which means bathing in the forest atmosphere and reconnecting with nature through our senses. Her garden aims to stimulate the visitor’simagination and an innate connection with nature, offering them a bridge to the natural world.
You can find more information about this garden on the link below:
St James’s Piccadilly: Imagine the World to be Different
2. St James’s Piccadilly: Imagine the World to be Different
This garden was designed by one of the UK’s best-known designers, Robert Myers. He has created a very unusual atmosphere for his show garden. We admire his design for being both bold and brave! The concept of the garden is based on entering an archway reminiscent of the gateways leading to the churchyard at St James's church, Piccadilly, through which visitors step into a contemplative sanctuary. Here, nature takes centre stage with a lush, biodiverse planting plan. We note here that this planting design is one of our favourites in the show.
You can find further details about this garden on the link below:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/Gardens/2024/st-jamess-piccadilly
The National Garden Scheme Garden
3. The National Garden Scheme Garden
This garden design is by Tom Stuart-Smith, a well-known British designer, who has won a Gold medal at the show. The garden’s theme is based on a 'woodland edge': it runs along an open hazel grove with a collection of drought-tolerant woodland plants that are suitable for the climate in the south-east of the UK. Some of the plants were donated by the owners of private gardens within the National Garden Scheme, a symbol of the tradition of the sharing and generosity that is part of the Scheme’s philanthropic mission.
You can find more information about this garden on the link below:
Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Garden
4. Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Garden
The Terrence Higgins Trust garden caught our eye with its organic layout, slate wall details, water features and planting.The entrance to the garden echoes the flooded bottom of a renovated quarry landscape. The rising and falling of the water level reveals the garden’s key feature, a slate stepping stone bridge that symbolises the Trust’s ambition for no new cases of HIV by 2030. A tombstone, which once represented death and fear, has now become a door opening onto a secluded terrace where we can enjoy a positive and hopeful future together.
You can find further details about this garden on the link below:
The Ecotherapy Garden
5. The Ecotherapy Garden
We loved the Balcony and Container Gardens category this year. As our population increases, high-density apartment buildings will be an obvious solution to the housing problem. The balcony, rooftop or small courtyard garden will therefore become more important as contributors to human well-being in the future.
This garden design successfully demonstrates how small London courtyards can still create the feeling of being in a garden when they are designed thoughtfully and carefully. As designers, we know that creating small spaces is always very tricky. Looking at this garden it doesn’t feel like a space that’s only 4 by 3 metres. A lush green background creates a sense of depth which, along with the gentle sound of water, offers an oasis for relaxation .
You can find more information about this garden on the link below:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/Gardens/2024/ecotherapy-garden
The Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Garden
6. The Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Garden
Here again a garden was created to make a limited space look much larger, by incorporating a dark background, lush greenery and tree ferns into the design. This garden seems so much bigger than its actual size, which is only 5 by 2 metres.
The Junglette Garden offers inspiration for making a balcony space look like a proper garden and for creating a tropical paradise there.
You can find further details about this garden on the link below: