Tag Archive for: Chelsea

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school: The first ever RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by and for children has been relocated to its permanent home at Sulivan Primary School in southwest London.

The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden was designed by pupils from the school and award-winning garden designer Harry Holding and was visited by HRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Reimagined to suit its new setting in the school grounds, the unique garden will now be a lasting feature for pupils to explore, learn and play in, as well as take care of.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

Nearly all elements from the original show garden have been transferred to the school, with the exception of the stream and rock pool. Instead, the subterranean den is set within a sea of wildflowers and has been reimagined by treehouse builders Root and Shoot into a sustainable climbing frame using timber from RHS Garden Wisley and rubber from waste material. Sculptural clay elements, crafted by land artist Finbar Ward and decorated by pupils, which previously adorned a wall within the show garden have now been positioned on the façade of the school itself.

As part of the relocation, the layout of the show garden has been adapted to suit the school’s setting, which is surrounded by a number of mature trees.  A path through the garden separates two distinct areas; one is low intervention with a wildflower meadow, a composting zone and dead hedges which provide habitats for wildlife, while the more cultivated side of the garden is packed with a variety of bold and colourful summer plants including kniphofias and gladioli, as well as edibles such as strawberries.

Wendy Aldridge, Headteacher at Sulivan Primary School, said: “We are so excited to welcome the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden to its new home. This garden will be a fantastic resource for our pupils, allowing them to develop hands-on gardening skills and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. It provides a unique, interactive space where children can learn about biodiversity, sustainability, and the importance of caring for our environment. The collaborative process of designing and now maintaining the garden has been invaluable, fostering a strong sense of community and pride within our school.”

Harry Holding, Award-winning Garden Designer, said: “It has been such a joy to work on
this momentous project and reimagining the show garden for its permanent home has been every bit as enjoyable as preparing it for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Seeing the pupils’ excitement as they interact with the garden, both in its original form and now in its new home, has been incredibly rewarding. In its new location, the design benefits from more space, lots of mature trees, and plenty of environments to explore. This garden will provide endless opportunities for discovery and learning, and will live on to benefit thousands of children and families from the local community for years to come. I am very much looking forward to seeing how it evolves with the students’ care and creativity.”

Alana Cama, RHS Senior Learning Manager, said: “The RHS is committed to nurturing a love of gardening in children and creating opportunities for them to engage with nature in a meaningful way. By involving pupils in the design and maintenance of the garden, they have quickly cultivated a sense of responsibility and connection to the environment. We’re excited to follow the progress of the garden and to see how it inspires a love of gardening amongst the school’s pupils for years to come. This project exemplifies our mission to make gardening accessible and enjoyable for all ages, and we are thrilled to see it find a permanent home at Sulivan Primary School.”

Sulivan Primary School is a member of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening which provides teachers with free resources and training, designed to help them give more children the opportunity to learn about caring for plants and our planet through gardening, while connecting with nature and boosting their wellbeing. The RHS is committed to fostering a love of gardening across generations and ensuring that it is an accessible activity for everyone.

For information on how to get involved with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening visit: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk

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Turf grower triumphs at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

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Turf grower triumphs at RHS Chelsea Flower Show: A North Yorkshire turf grower has won a top award at the world’s most prestigious gardening event.

Lindum Turf, which is based at Thorganby near York, won the Sustainable Garden Product of the Year category at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, for its plastic-free wildflower turf.

Turf grower triumphs at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Turf grower triumphs at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

The results were announced on May 22, the first day of the world leading event.

Professor Chris Harrop OBE, chair of the panel of judges at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, said this year’s shortlist included an impressive range of entrants, covering all aspects of sustainability and gardening.

However, he added that the judges were pleased to announce Lindum Wildflower Turf as this year’s winner.

Prof Harrop said: “The judges reflected on the sad reality that the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and that the nation’s biodiversity is under serious threat. Lindum’s Wildflower Turf goes some way to help address this.

“The Lindum Wildflower Turf is the first to be grown without plastic matting. Its compost is peat free and recycled but most importantly it supports a huge range of pollinators and insects with its 27 species of wild flowers, perennials and herbs, all native to the UK.

“The judges fully support Lindum’s mantra that wild flower turf should be grown plastic-free, ‘The way nature intended’, and are delighted announce them as this year’s winner.”

Lindum Turf has had invested heavily over several years to create the plastic-free wildflower turf.

Some turf grown in the UK, including other wildflower turfs, contains single-use plastic mesh which gets buried in the ground when the turf is laid.

Over time, the mesh decays into harmful microplastics that pollute the soil and can leach off into nearby watercourses. The mesh can also have an extremely damaging impact on wildlife, with hedgehogs and other small animals becoming trapped in it and suffocating or starving to death.

Lindum Turf owner, Stephen Fell, said everyone who worked at the company was absolutely thrilled by the win.

He said: “The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the pinnacle of the gardening events and by far the most prestigious. Everyone wants to win at Chelsea.

“To achieve that with a product we have innovated ourselves is incredible. It adds tremendous credibility to what we’ve created, and what we’re trying to achieve – making turf sustainable and something that enhances the environment rather than potentially damaging it.

“I’m extremely proud of everyone at Lindum Turf.”

Earlier this year, Stephen launched a campaign calling on the turf industry at large to remove single use plastics from its products by 2030, to prevent the damage it causes.

The campaign has been supported by Juliet Sargeant, who won a Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2016, and a Silver Gilt Medal for her popular Blue Peter Garden in 2022, as well as industry body the Turf Growers Association (TGA).

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Perennial returns to RHS Chelsea Flower Show

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Perennial returns to RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Following last year’s success with the Perennial Garden ‘With Love’ by Richard Miers winning the RHS People’s Choice Award, Perennial is returning to the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Over 50 people were directly involved in the creation of the winning garden last year, showcasing a fraction of all those working in horticulture that the charity supports and cares for, who shape, nurture, and protect our beautiful gardens and green spaces across the UK.

Perennial returns to RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Perennial returns to RHS Chelsea Flower Show

However, the Perennial presence will be a little different this year as they will be appearing in the Grand Pavilion, where you can join the team on their exhibit in the Discovery Zone for an Alan Titchmarsh-led audio visual experience, to learn about the charity and how they help those who work with plants, trees, flowers, or grass.

Beautifully created with plants, designed to demonstrate the diversity and interest that can be created in a vertical garden, the stand will include new ‘Plants for Perennial’ varieties; Dianthus Pink Celebration, Nemesia Peaches and Cream, Clematis Prince George, and Salvia Cuello in both white and pink forms. All have been produced in collaboration with four wholesale nurseries to raise funds to support for the work that Perennial does, and it will be the first time that the plants will all be appearing together.

“Perennial has taken a different approach this year.” says Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Anita Bates. “In order to reach as many people as possible so they know we are here for them; we are always adapting. We’re looking forward to telling our story, launching our new ‘Plants for Perennial’ varieties, and showcasing some of the people we are proud to support. If you’re attending Chelsea Flower Show, do drop by exhibit 004 and meet the team.”

Read more about Perennial’s Chelsea presence this year at perennial.org.uk/chelsea

As the UK’s only charity helping all those working in, and retired from horticulture, Perennial is always on hand to offer support, information and advice and there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to get involved. Visit perennial.org.uk

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