What the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Told Us About Our Gardens
This year’s virtual version of the RHS’s iconic show reflected our renewed love of nature and its restorative powers
Sarah Alcroft
26 May 2020
Houzz UK Editorial Team
Anyone who has even a small amount of outside space will probably have come to appreciate it even more over the past couple of months. Watching the natural world grow and flourish has been heartening in these restricted times.
As such, many of the themes we’ve seen gaining popularity over recent years, such as wildlife-friendly spaces and growing fruit and veg, were front and centre at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, 18-23 May, which had the environment and sustainability at its heart. The live event was cancelled, but that didn’t stop the team from providing advice and inspiration through online garden tours, talks and demonstrations.
As such, many of the themes we’ve seen gaining popularity over recent years, such as wildlife-friendly spaces and growing fruit and veg, were front and centre at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, 18-23 May, which had the environment and sustainability at its heart. The live event was cancelled, but that didn’t stop the team from providing advice and inspiration through online garden tours, talks and demonstrations.
Our gardens can boost our wellbeing
Anyone lucky enough to have access to an outdoor space in these restricted times will be aware of just how much nature can boost our wellbeing, benefiting both our physical and mental health.
So it’s no surprise that one of the key pieces of advice from designers at Chelsea this year is simply to take the time to enjoy the natural world. Sarah Eberle said her first rule of gardening is to “just sit out there and really enjoy the green space around you”. Adam Frost emphasised the importance of stopping and sitting in your garden – finding secluded spots to just ‘be’. Listening to the birds and bees can be incredibly therapeutic, he said.
If you can, work a permanent seat into your garden, so you can pop out and enjoy the sights and sounds at every opportunity, even if just for a moment.
Eberle suggested taking some time to consider “how you can get the best out of your garden for your peace of mind and your physical health”. If you’re redesigning, or even just tweaking, your garden, find plants that bring you joy. Note down or photograph what you’re drawn to, both in your current space and out on walks, she said, “whether it’s the shadow [a plant] causes, its associations, or just the feeling it gives you when you look at it”.
Anyone lucky enough to have access to an outdoor space in these restricted times will be aware of just how much nature can boost our wellbeing, benefiting both our physical and mental health.
So it’s no surprise that one of the key pieces of advice from designers at Chelsea this year is simply to take the time to enjoy the natural world. Sarah Eberle said her first rule of gardening is to “just sit out there and really enjoy the green space around you”. Adam Frost emphasised the importance of stopping and sitting in your garden – finding secluded spots to just ‘be’. Listening to the birds and bees can be incredibly therapeutic, he said.
If you can, work a permanent seat into your garden, so you can pop out and enjoy the sights and sounds at every opportunity, even if just for a moment.
Eberle suggested taking some time to consider “how you can get the best out of your garden for your peace of mind and your physical health”. If you’re redesigning, or even just tweaking, your garden, find plants that bring you joy. Note down or photograph what you’re drawn to, both in your current space and out on walks, she said, “whether it’s the shadow [a plant] causes, its associations, or just the feeling it gives you when you look at it”.
We’re focusing on wildlife
Beekeeping in Britain has almost doubled in a decade, according to government figures. The number reflects a general trend across the nation towards caring for and encouraging wildlife, something that was reflected in many of the Chelsea videos.
Adam Frost gave us a tour of his walled garden, saying, “[The sound of] the birds singing has changed massively since 2016 when we moved here … and the wildlife that comes in now is incredible. So if you can garden a little bit more with wildlife in mind … our gardens are only going to get better going forwards.”
It doesn’t matter how small your garden is, it can still make a difference to wildlife. Tom Massey has replanted his slim front garden in London with an insect-friendly meadow. “Putting naturalistic wild plants in urban spaces creates wildlife corridors – areas of natural habitat for lots of different insects,” he said.
Charlotte Harris, whose Chelsea garden was designed to be “a restorative space for people and wildlife”, recommended taking inspiration from the thoughtfully designed Olympic Park in east London and “bringing water into the garden, letting materials rot down to help beneficial insects, and really just letting nature come in a bit more.”
Discover 12 ways to create a wildlife haven in a small garden.
Beekeeping in Britain has almost doubled in a decade, according to government figures. The number reflects a general trend across the nation towards caring for and encouraging wildlife, something that was reflected in many of the Chelsea videos.
Adam Frost gave us a tour of his walled garden, saying, “[The sound of] the birds singing has changed massively since 2016 when we moved here … and the wildlife that comes in now is incredible. So if you can garden a little bit more with wildlife in mind … our gardens are only going to get better going forwards.”
It doesn’t matter how small your garden is, it can still make a difference to wildlife. Tom Massey has replanted his slim front garden in London with an insect-friendly meadow. “Putting naturalistic wild plants in urban spaces creates wildlife corridors – areas of natural habitat for lots of different insects,” he said.
Charlotte Harris, whose Chelsea garden was designed to be “a restorative space for people and wildlife”, recommended taking inspiration from the thoughtfully designed Olympic Park in east London and “bringing water into the garden, letting materials rot down to help beneficial insects, and really just letting nature come in a bit more.”
Discover 12 ways to create a wildlife haven in a small garden.
According to a survey this year by ChickenGuard, chickens are now five times more popular as pets than hamsters. Watching Monty Don stroll through his glorious Herefordshire garden on his way to feed his brood certainly highlighted the attraction.
The Skinny Jean Gardener, Lee Connelly, meanwhile, suggests giving hedgehogs a helping hand. We’ve become familiar with cutting holes in our fences to create a highway for these endangered creatures, but it’s also a good idea to give them a home.
Cut a 15cm sq hole in a biggish storage box, as well as a few ventilation holes, and place it upside down near a fence. Collect leaves, twigs and bark, but pile these outside the container, so the animal can create its own den. As Connelly said to his daughter, “Would you want a hedgehog decorating your bedroom?”
The Skinny Jean Gardener, Lee Connelly, meanwhile, suggests giving hedgehogs a helping hand. We’ve become familiar with cutting holes in our fences to create a highway for these endangered creatures, but it’s also a good idea to give them a home.
Cut a 15cm sq hole in a biggish storage box, as well as a few ventilation holes, and place it upside down near a fence. Collect leaves, twigs and bark, but pile these outside the container, so the animal can create its own den. As Connelly said to his daughter, “Would you want a hedgehog decorating your bedroom?”
We’re embracing growing our own
Planting seeds, nurturing them, then eating the fresh produce is a joy more and more of us are discovering. As chef Raymond Blanc said, “You don’t need very much space to see the magic of growing food.”
His 4.5 x 3.5m balcony is bursting with produce, all grown in containers – everything from broad beans, courgettes and tomatoes to potatoes and herbs. Food grown close to home makes sense, he said –“better taste, better textures, better colours, better nutrients”.
You don’t have to have dedicated beds or containers, either. Adam Frost is mixing edibles in with a meadow garden. “I like the idea of being able to go into the garden and pick some of the stuff we used to have a relationship with, and dressing a salad with it or using it in a sandwich,” he said.
Planting seeds, nurturing them, then eating the fresh produce is a joy more and more of us are discovering. As chef Raymond Blanc said, “You don’t need very much space to see the magic of growing food.”
His 4.5 x 3.5m balcony is bursting with produce, all grown in containers – everything from broad beans, courgettes and tomatoes to potatoes and herbs. Food grown close to home makes sense, he said –“better taste, better textures, better colours, better nutrients”.
You don’t have to have dedicated beds or containers, either. Adam Frost is mixing edibles in with a meadow garden. “I like the idea of being able to go into the garden and pick some of the stuff we used to have a relationship with, and dressing a salad with it or using it in a sandwich,” he said.
We’re trying to garden organically
Whether in our food, our cleaning products or our gardens, many of us are trying to cut down on chemicals.
The creator of the Yeo Valley organic garden in Somerset, Sarah Mead, explained why she works this way: “Organic gardening is going with rather than against nature.”
The key to strong plants, she said, is the soil. “If it’s high in nutrients and well looked-after, if it’s not flooded with chemicals and is full of micro-organisms and worms doing a lot of your work for you, then you’ll have great, healthy plants that are resilient.”
Where garden pests are concerned, we might have to relax a little. “If you see white fly or black fly, go and have a cup of tea,” she said. “When you next go, lo and behold, somebody will be eating them. That’s nature’s way of making things work. [At the farm], we feed the birds in winter, but stop in summer to encourage them to [eat] pests.”
Need some help with your design? Find reviewed garden designers in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Whether in our food, our cleaning products or our gardens, many of us are trying to cut down on chemicals.
The creator of the Yeo Valley organic garden in Somerset, Sarah Mead, explained why she works this way: “Organic gardening is going with rather than against nature.”
The key to strong plants, she said, is the soil. “If it’s high in nutrients and well looked-after, if it’s not flooded with chemicals and is full of micro-organisms and worms doing a lot of your work for you, then you’ll have great, healthy plants that are resilient.”
Where garden pests are concerned, we might have to relax a little. “If you see white fly or black fly, go and have a cup of tea,” she said. “When you next go, lo and behold, somebody will be eating them. That’s nature’s way of making things work. [At the farm], we feed the birds in winter, but stop in summer to encourage them to [eat] pests.”
Need some help with your design? Find reviewed garden designers in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
We’re inspiring the next generation
One of the more positive aspects of the lockdown has been the opportunity to get the kids into gardening. The Chelsea Flower Show ran a School Gardening Club all week, offering tips on everything from making a seed bomb piñata to fun garden crafts.
“The RHS wants to inspire a passion for plants in school children, to train the next generation of gardeners, so they’re better equipped to find solutions to the problems facing the environment,” RHS Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh explained.
Lee Connelly suggested three ways to get children interested – grow edibles, attract wildlife, such as bees, frogs and hedgehogs, and make the garden a fun place to be.
One of the more positive aspects of the lockdown has been the opportunity to get the kids into gardening. The Chelsea Flower Show ran a School Gardening Club all week, offering tips on everything from making a seed bomb piñata to fun garden crafts.
“The RHS wants to inspire a passion for plants in school children, to train the next generation of gardeners, so they’re better equipped to find solutions to the problems facing the environment,” RHS Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh explained.
Lee Connelly suggested three ways to get children interested – grow edibles, attract wildlife, such as bees, frogs and hedgehogs, and make the garden a fun place to be.
Small gardens can be beautiful, too
Having a small space needn’t be a barrier to creating a garden. Along with Tom Massey’s petite but beautiful meadow and Raymond Blanc’s abundant balcony, Chelsea favourite Andy Sturgeon showed us round his 10 x 7m city centre courtyard, in which he’s created a relaxing haven.
His recipe? Compromise, because you can’t fit everything in; a black fence, so it recedes into the shadows; trickling water to muffle traffic noise, and a patio just big enough that you can walk around it when people are sitting at a table, leaving enough space to circle it with planting.
Don’t be afraid to think big. “Bringing big things into a small space works,” he said. “If you flood a small space with small things, it makes it feel cluttered.”
Where trees are concerned, though, he has a suggestion. “People talk about using small trees in a small garden, but you should be talking about using large shrubs,” he said. “It’s a subtle difference, but you don’t want something that’s ultimately going to outgrow the space.”
Having a small space needn’t be a barrier to creating a garden. Along with Tom Massey’s petite but beautiful meadow and Raymond Blanc’s abundant balcony, Chelsea favourite Andy Sturgeon showed us round his 10 x 7m city centre courtyard, in which he’s created a relaxing haven.
His recipe? Compromise, because you can’t fit everything in; a black fence, so it recedes into the shadows; trickling water to muffle traffic noise, and a patio just big enough that you can walk around it when people are sitting at a table, leaving enough space to circle it with planting.
Don’t be afraid to think big. “Bringing big things into a small space works,” he said. “If you flood a small space with small things, it makes it feel cluttered.”
Where trees are concerned, though, he has a suggestion. “People talk about using small trees in a small garden, but you should be talking about using large shrubs,” he said. “It’s a subtle difference, but you don’t want something that’s ultimately going to outgrow the space.”
We’re bringing even more of the outside in
This year, Chelsea gave houseplants a spotlight, reflecting the trend for greening up our interiors. But where a few years ago we might have placed a Pilea on a table or trailed a string of hearts from a shelf, now it’s all about abundance.
Indoor garden designer Ian Drummond suggested ways to create a houseplant oasis. “Consider the space and [where] the light [falls],” he said. “Create a landscape by using different heights, shades and textures of leaves.”
It’s important to have plants at every level for a lush impression. “Position plants on the floor, on tables and even hung from the ceiling, especially if you’re tight on space,” he said. “[This will] soften the lines of the architecture and furniture to create a nice space to be in.”
If you missed the show this year, catch up on all the garden tours, inspiration and advice here.
Tell us…
Have you been inspired by any of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show coverage? Share your thoughts or a photo of your outside space, however small, in the Comments.
This year, Chelsea gave houseplants a spotlight, reflecting the trend for greening up our interiors. But where a few years ago we might have placed a Pilea on a table or trailed a string of hearts from a shelf, now it’s all about abundance.
Indoor garden designer Ian Drummond suggested ways to create a houseplant oasis. “Consider the space and [where] the light [falls],” he said. “Create a landscape by using different heights, shades and textures of leaves.”
It’s important to have plants at every level for a lush impression. “Position plants on the floor, on tables and even hung from the ceiling, especially if you’re tight on space,” he said. “[This will] soften the lines of the architecture and furniture to create a nice space to be in.”
If you missed the show this year, catch up on all the garden tours, inspiration and advice here.
Tell us…
Have you been inspired by any of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show coverage? Share your thoughts or a photo of your outside space, however small, in the Comments.
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Lori - we are a on a Monarch migration route - they need places to roost - they really like the white pines and Hackberry trees. Nothing like watching a tree full wake up to the sun's rays. Magic that cannot be replaced.
Hmm - realized my wife had opened another window and commented twice. Couldn't find the photos of the Monarchs in the morning. They are in there somewhere - or maybe the other computer.
We are surrounded by up to 150 year old growth trees on our property. I’ve also added several bug houses to encourage solitary bees. I have scores of perennials on the property including milkweeds. Providing food, water, and shelter. Throughout the various stages is paramount. I’ve done my best to cover all the bases based on my readings and guidance from the Watch.