by The Pro Landscaper Team | 11 Jun 26 | Domestic Landscaping, Garden Design, Long Reads, Opinion, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
There is a common misconception that building show gardens is glamorous. People see the finished photographs, the television coverage, the medals, the celebrities walking through the gardens, and the crowds admiring the finished result. What they rarely see is the pressure, sacrifice, and logistical nightmare that often sits behind every successful show garden.
Having spent 14 years building show gardens whilst simultaneously running a landscaping business and a consultancy company, I can honestly say it is one of the most rewarding experiences our industry can offer. At the same time, it can also be one of the most challenging.
A show garden does not arrive at a convenient time. It arrives regardless of how busy your order book is, how many clients are waiting for projects to start, how many reports need to be written, or how many quotations need pricing. The reality is that while you are organising materials, coordinating suppliers, managing transport, arranging accommodation, attending planning meetings, and solving problems on a show build, your business at home continues.
The phone still rings. Clients still require updates. Staff still need managing. Invoices still need to be paid. Projects still need to be delivered.
For many contractors, the greatest challenge is not actually building the garden itself. It’s maintaining the business’s momentum while key team members are committed elsewhere for weeks at a time.
Financially, show gardens can also be difficult. Whilst sponsors and suppliers play a crucial role, there are always hidden costs that nobody sees. Labour, accommodation, fuel, transport, machinery, additional site visits, unforeseen issues, and the countless hours spent planning and coordinating all add up quickly. Very few people appreciate just how much work is carried out before ground is even broken on site. Then there is the physical and mental strain.
Show gardens are built to immovable deadlines. Assessing, judging and showing the opening date does not change because of poor weather, delayed deliveries, staff shortages, or material problems. Every contractor who has worked on a major show garden will understand the long days, early starts, late finishes, and pressure that inevitably builds as judging approaches; tempers can often fray.
Yet despite all of this, people continue to return year after year. Why?
Because show gardens offer something that normal contracting work rarely can. They push standards higher. They encourage innovation. They create opportunities to work alongside some of the best designers, suppliers, and contractors in the country. They expose teams to construction techniques, materials, and logistical challenges that are rarely encountered on domestic projects. Most importantly, they develop people.
I have seen young landscapers arrive on show builds with limited experience and leave with a completely different level of confidence, understanding, and professionalism. Working under pressure alongside experienced contractors accelerates learning in a way few training courses can replicate.
Show gardens also provide opportunities for businesses that extend far beyond the event itself. Many contractors secure future work, develop long-term supplier relationships, gain media exposure, and establish industry credibility through their involvement. In many cases, the benefits continue for years after the show has finished.
Perhaps the greatest positive, however, is the sense of achievement.
When you stand back after weeks of planning, coordination, problem-solving, and hard physical work, and see a garden completed to an exceptional standard, there is a level of satisfaction that is difficult to describe. There is also an immense pride in knowing that a group of people have come together to create something extraordinary within an incredibly short period of time.
Show gardens are not easy. They test businesses. They test finances. They test relationships. They test endurance. But they also raise standards, develop skills, create opportunities, and inspire the wider industry.
Looking back, whilst there have certainly been moments when I questioned my own sanity during a build, I would not change the experience. The challenges are significant, but so too are the rewards.
Also, be warned, RHS shows are addictive. I’ve retired more times than Alan Sargent – slight exaggeration, but you get the drift.
In an industry that is constantly evolving, show gardens remain one of the few places where creativity, craftsmanship, teamwork, and sheer determination come together on a public stage.
For those considering taking the leap into show garden construction, my advice is simple: go in with your eyes open, plan thoroughly, surround yourself with good people, and be prepared for one of the toughest yet most rewarding experiences of your career. Few things in life are as exhilarating or as difficult as winning a gold medal, especially at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which is by far the pinnacle of landscaping and design achievements.
Plans are being put in place for Chelsea 2027, but more importantly, I’m consulting on the Macmillan Cancer Support: The Nascent Shade Garden at RHS Badminton with Artisan Landscapes, Will Cooke and designer Elle Arnett. Then it’s straight to RHS Sandringham with sponsors RNIB, designer and best friend Paul Hervey Brookes and my own team. Yes, I’m probably a show garden addict.
Read Gareth Wilson’s latest article in the June issue of Pro Landscaper magazine here.
by Bethany Vann | 31 Mar 26 | Garden Design, News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Celebrity supporters of the charity, Lady Garden Foundation, will be advocating for gynaecological health and awareness at RHS Chelsea Flower Show later this year.
Designed by Darren Hawkes, the charity’s ‘Silent No More’ Garden aims to “break the silence and stigma” surrounding the five gynaecological cancers – vulval, ovarian, cervical, womb and vaginal.
Amongst the charity’s famous supporters are TV personality and founder of Trinny London, Trinny Woodall, alongside TV presenters, Vernon Kay and Davina McCall.
Each will serve as charity host ambassadors on different days at the garden during RHS Chelsea show week.
Long-term supporter of the charity, Davina McCall comments:
“My mother had ovarian cancer, and in those days no one talked about women’s gynaecological cancers, their symptoms, or how they affected women’s bodies – it’s like there was a real sense of shame and embarrassment…
“I think it’s incredibly important that we start having open conversations with friends and family about the five gynaecological cancers and what the symptoms can feel like.”
Hawkes’ design has been shaped by a two-year collaboration with the Lady Garden Foundation clinicians at The Royal Marsden Hospital and the voices of patients who experienced delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis or dismissal of symptoms, he says:
“Silence and embarrassment delays diagnosis and costs lives – the first step in bringing about change is making space for conversation. The garden will provoke discussion, having a positive effect on outcomes for women, and in turn these effects will be welcomed by families, partners and loved ones.”
Through the use of form, planting and spatial journey, Hawkes’ design unfolds as an emotional echo, reflecting the reality of many women’s lived experiences and the importance of gynaecological health.
The Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ Garden will showcase at RHS Chelsea from 19 – 23 May 2026.
Find out more about Hawke’s design in the May edition of Pro Landscaper.
by Bethany Vann | 17 Feb 26 | Garden Design, News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Designer Darren Hawkes reveals the architectural focal points of his upcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, inspired by female anatomy.
Commissioned by gynaecological cancer charity, the Lady Garden Foundation, Hawkes’ ‘Silent No More’ Garden looks to invite curiosity and encourage open and honest conversation around the five gynaecological cancers.
A focal point of the garden is the newly unveiled abstract structures. All four will stand at 2.5 metres tall and will echo the curves and protective qualities of the female anatomy.
Inspired by Spanish artist Eduardo Chillida’s clay sculpture La Casa del Poeta III, with its interconnecting forms, each of the four structures will work to create a softly enclosed, cocoon-like conversational space.
The structural overhand aims to create a womb-like environment that offers both shelter and privacy. Each one of the structures – brought to life by Lady Garden Foundation supporter, Ruddy Joinery – will be uniquely shaped to give the garden an organic composition.
Garden designer, Darren Hawkes – who will be speaking at this year’s APL Awards – comments:
“The Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ garden draws inspiration from the 20th-century Basque artist Eduardo Chillida. I was struck by the way his work questions enclosure and what it means to find sanctuary within a space. I hope the four central sculptural forms in the garden will literally stop visitors in their tracks when walking up Main Avenue at RHS Chelsea to encourage interaction, reflection and the protective environment to ignite the taboo conversations about gynaecological cancers.”
The structural elements will arrive on the showgrounds fully built, where they will then be rendered in terracotta clay – giving the space a warm soft glow that transitions smoothly into the garden’s Mediterranean-inspired planting scheme of soft pinks, silver greys, and glaucous foliage.
The Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ Garden will showcase at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 18 – 23 May 2026.
by Holly Chapman | 29 Oct 25 | Garden Design, News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The award-winning Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden from RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been relocated to Bristol Zoo Project, bringing rainforest landscapes to the Bristol area for the first time.
Designed by Zoe Claymore and sponsored by Project Giving Back, the garden won RHS’s People’s Choice award in the All About Plants category back in May.
Rehomed by Bristol Zoological Society, a conservation education charity which runs Bristol Zoo Project, the garden can be found in the zoo’s sanctuary garden.
Claymore says the garden’s relocation “feels incredibly special,” adding:
“This garden was designed to spark wonder and connection, to remind people that rainforests aren’t just faraway places, but part of our own landscape here in Britain. It’s exciting this garden will grow alongside this fantastic 100—year programme to safeguard these rainforests for the future.”
Featuring native trees and accessible pathways with seating, the garden encourages visitors to sit and read the signage about temperate rainforests, backed by Aviva.
by Bethany Vann | 21 Oct 25 | Garden Design, News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Landscape and garden designer, Patrick Clarke is making his return to RHS Chelsea Flower Show next year with a garden in support of children’s mental health.
Announced at the RHS Autumn Press Conference this week, Clarke will be partnering with The Children’s Society to create The Children’s Society Garden, a space that is wholly usable for teenagers and children.
Speaking on why he chose this garden to make his return, Clarke says:
“When I heard about what they were doing, what [the society’s] story was, I was just utterly inspired by its work, because by its assessment, there is a happiness rescission amongst young teenagers and young people in the country at the moment.”
According to The Children’s Society, one in three children are turned away from mental health support, and it can take on average a total of 291 days for a young person to receive mental health support in East London.
In response to this the society has been establishing Time for Young People hubs in areas of need across the UK, where teenagers and children can access mental health support immediately.
The design – which takes inspiration from the Japanese concept ‘wabi-sabi’, the recrafting of discarded materials – is “essentially the outdoor version of [those hubs]; a garden of safety,” says Clarke.
“They get to essentially retreat, in one sense or another, into a space that we’re creating where they can be by themselves, they can be in a social space, or they can receive gentle mental health support as well.”
When speaking about his partnership with the society, Clarke says the project is something he feels is wholly “worthwhile” and “incredibly important”; raising awareness and advocating for the younger generation.
The Children’s Society Garden – which is being sponsored in park by Project Giving Back and built by Yoreland Design – marks Clarke’s return to RHS Chelsea.
His last garden at the show, The QVC Garden, exhibited in 2008. It was inspired by poetry and highlighted for its experimental combination of material and plants.
Planting will also have a prominent presence in Clarke’s 2026 garden, with a scheme that is divided into three areas – sunny, transitional and shade – each one featuring a variety resilient species.
Landscape and garden design practice, Studio Ikram will be taking the lead on the garden’s planting – many will recognise designer Humaira Ikram from her on-going ‘Comeback Kings’ series in Pro Landscaper magazine, where she shines a light on species she feels have gone overlooked for some time.
The Children’s Society Garden will be featuring at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on the 19 – 23 May 2026, after which it will be relocated to a youth support centre in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.
by Holly Chapman | 04 Aug 25 | Garden Design, Nature & Biodiversity, News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Sponsored by Flood Re, the garden reimagines the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Flood Resilient Garden as a joint initiative with the UK government that provides a blueprint for how outdoor spaces can help reduce flooding risks.
Flood Re: The Flood Resilient Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024. Credit: RHS/Sarah Cuttle
The original silver-medal winning garden was designed by Dr Ed Barsley and Naomi Slade, built by Belderbos Landscapes.
Newly relocated to Howbery park in Oxfordshire, the garden has since been transformed with additional landscaping and planting design by Barsley and Belderbos Landscapes.
Built using specialist plaster, raised eclectic sockets and tiled floors, the intention of the space is to show a combination of functionality and aesthetics in garden design.
The new pond also acts as a sump to collect water and slowly allow it to drain away, while a smart rainwater tank allows remote drain down ahead of predicted rainfall.
Dr Barsley reflects on RHS Chelsea:
“The original garden at the RHS Chelsea was a magical moment. In reimagining it for a permanent setting, we’ve worked hard to ensure it can endure and thrive for decades to come.”
The garden also supports the Build Back Better scheme, which enables policyholders to receive up to £10k towards the installation of flood resilient measures.
by The Pro Landscaper Team | 28 Jul 25 | From the Mag, Garden Design, Long Reads, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
David Keegan reflects on this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 and how far the show has come in recent years.
This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was as dazzling as ever, with bold design statements, eye-catching planting, and a roster of celebrity appearances. But beneath the glamour and the glitz, Chelsea 2025 was also the scene of some serious soul searching. One of the most talked-about moments came not from a show garden or celebrity guest, but from the resignation of RHS ambassador Tayshan Hayden-Smith the week before. His departure, delivered with very public criticism of the organisation and the show, struck a chord with many.
Hayden-Smith’s comments were hard-hitting. He labelled Chelsea “environmentally damaging” and “elitist” – accusations that can’t simply be brushed aside. They speak to wider debates within horticulture and the role of high-profile events in addressing, or failing to address, the pressing ecological and social challenges of our time.
I say this not as an outsider, but as someone who has been both a critic and a supporter of the RHS. Back in 2005 – astonishingly, 20 years ago – I spent six months living and working at RHS Garden Wisley while filming the television series Garden School. As an organic gardener, I was genuinely shocked at the time by the widespread use of chemical sprays on fruit trees, vegetables, and ornamental plants. There was little discussion back then about sustainability or organic practices. Slugs, for example, were seen almost exclusively as the enemy – something to be eliminated at all costs.
Fast forward two decades and the landscape has changed dramatically. The RHS has embraced organic methodologies and now actively promotes sustainable gardening. The humble slug, once enemy number one, is today written about in reverential tones, appreciated for its role in the wider ecosystem. This transformation is real, and it’s significant.
Chelsea, too, has undergone a quiet revolution. Where once show gardens were treated as temporary installations – often dismantled and discarded as waste once the show ended – there is now a far stronger emphasis on afterlife and legacy. Designers are encouraged to think not just about aesthetics and impact, but about sustainability, reusability, and relevance in the real world. The RHS has embedded sustainability criteria throughout the application process, and while some gardens may still be perceived as vanity projects backed by hefty budgets, many others are pushing the boundaries of what gardening can be in an age of climate crisis.
This year, two gardens stood out for me as exemplars of this shift, both in concept and execution.
First was The Garden of the Future, designed by Josh Parker and Matthew Butler, and sponsored by The Gates Foundation. This garden was not just a visual delight, blending ornamental planting with edible crops; it also asked big questions about adaptation, resilience, and community. It explored how people and technology can collaborate to help us thrive on a warming planet. With a carefully curated plant palette that mixed beauty with adaptability, the garden felt optimistic and forward-looking. It was especially engaging to see Levi Roots cooking live in the space, using ingredients harvested directly from the garden – a brilliant way to connect the design with real-world usage and community interaction.
Levi Roots. Credit: David Keegan
Even more ground-breaking, however, was The Avanade Intelligent Garden, designed by Tom Massey and Je Ahn sponsored by Avanade & Microsoft. This garden showcased what may well become a pivotal development in the relationship between horticulture and artificial intelligence. Using a network of sensors embedded in the soil and trees, the system could monitor environmental conditions in real time – everything from soil moisture to tree health – and relay that data to a user-friendly mobile app. In effect, it allowed for two-way communication between plants and people via AI. Far from being a gimmick, this integration of tech felt genuinely meaningful.
Naturally, there are valid concerns about the rapid rise of AI and its potential impacts on society, but I couldn’t help feeling that this was the horticultural equivalent of the invention of the telephone. It represents a first step toward a future in which our gardens and green spaces can quite literally ‘speak’ to us, alerting us to problems before they become visible and enabling better, more responsive care.
Talking with the team behind the technology, it’s clear that the initial focus is on public realm and commercial projects. But I see enormous potential for domestic use as well. In my own garden design practice, I’m often involved in the early establishment of newly planted trees and shrubs—arguably the most critical phase in any garden’s life cycle. The ability to monitor those plants remotely and alert clients or maintenance teams to changing conditions could prevent costly losses and ensure healthier, more resilient gardens. Imagine an app that lets you know a specific tree is under stress, or that a shrub hasn’t had enough water during a dry spell. That’s not science fiction anymore – it’s science fact.
Without the exposure offered by RHS Chelsea flower Show, I doubt I would have had the opportunity to see this technology in its infancy in action, or to discuss its applications directly with the creators. That’s one of the enduring strengths of the show: despite its flaws and excesses, it remains a powerful platform for innovation, collaboration, and inspiration.
Of course, we must acknowledge the environmental costs of hosting a show like Chelsea in its current form. It’s a vast, resource-intensive production, taking place in the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities. But it is also one of the most important horticultural events on the global calendar. Its reach and impact are enormous, and the RHS has a unique opportunity – indeed, a responsibility – to ensure that it leads by example. Chelsea is not just about spectacle; at its best, it brings together the most talented minds in horticulture, landscape architecture, botany, and environmental science to show us what is possible. It shines a spotlight on new technologies, new ways of thinking, and new plant combinations that are not only beautiful but fit for the future.
So yes, let’s listen to the critics. Let’s continue to question and improve. But let’s also celebrate the genuine progress being made. The RHS of 2025 is not the RHS of 2005. It is more inclusive, more sustainable, and more open to innovation than ever before. And that, to my mind, is something worth building on.
by Holly Chapman | 22 May 25 | News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Supplier News
Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres’ Philadelphus x ‘Petite Perfume Pink’ wins RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2025.
A pollinator-friendly plant, the compact shrub was bred by retired Hillier plant developer, Alan Postill.
The plant produces masses of pink and citrus-scented flowers from late spring into early summer, making it the world’s first pink Philadelphus, while it is fragrant with jasmine.
Currently being featured by Sparsholt College at RHS Chelsea, in its garden which highlights climate-resilient plants.
Notably, the plant attracted 53 votes out of 130 judges.
Hosta ‘Silly String’ and Salvia TROPICOLOUR SUNRISE take joint second place.
by The Pro Landscaper Team | 15 May 25 | Garden Design, Long Reads, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
RHS Chelsea is just around the corner, and if you’re participating for the first time, here are a few tips to help you prepare for the show and some insights I wish I had known for my first time at the hallowed grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Taking on a show garden at the RHS Chelsea is an incredible opportunity, but it’s also one of the most challenging things you can do in landscaping. Looking back, here are some things I wish I’d known before stepping onto the showground for the first time:
Carl Jones, director of C J Landscapes
Time disappears fast
The schedule is intense. You might think you have plenty of time to build your garden, but once you’re on-site, every minute flies by. Having a well-rehearsed plan with your team will save you a lot of stress and mistakes.
The logistics are a challenge
Transporting materials, getting the right deliveries at the right time, and ensuring everything fits in your allocated space is a massive task. Triple-check all delivery dates and have a backup plan for delays.
Weather is not your friend
Rain, wind, and even unexpected heat can throw a spanner in the works. Pack for every scenario and don’t underestimate how much the elements can slow things down.
Expect the unexpected
Things will go wrong, and that’s okay. I know it’s easier said than done but try to keep calm and focus on solving the issue without losing focus on the end goal.
The aftermath is just as important
What happens to your garden after the show? Have a plan for dismantling and rehoming materials so you’re not left scrambling at the end.
If you’re gearing up for your first show garden, preparation is key. Speak to past exhibitors, build a solid team, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most of all, enjoy the experience—it truly is the most incredible opportunity!
RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place next week, 20 – 24 May 2025.
Written by director of C J Landscapes, Carl Jones.
Check out the full RHS Chelsea Preview Special in our May issue here.
by Holly Chapman | 14 May 25 | News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Manchester based Nth Degree has partnered with Maximillian Design to create a garden design-led experience stand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show set to debut next week.
Since the opening of its new showroom in Hale, south Manchester, the outdoor furniture brand is “proud to be bringing the world of Nth Degree to Chelsea for the first time,” says director Gary Farrell.
Designed by Max Parker-Smith, the trade stand will feature Nth Degree’s N4 medium teak collection. Visitors will be able to explore the space and chat to the team.
Parker-Smith has received a silver-gilt at both RHS Tatton Flower Show in 2021 and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in 2023.
The north west-based company is excited to expand its brand down south for the first time.
by Holly Chapman | 08 May 25 | Garden Design, News
Platipus is hosting a webinar on 15 May to give viewers an insight into the story behind Matthew Childs’ RHS Silver Gilt Medal Chelsea Flower Show Garden ‘Bridge to 2030’.
The RHS Chelsea 2024 garden design symbolises the journey from the HIV crisis in the 1980’s to a future without new HIV cases by 2030.
Starting at 11am, the presentation will cover how Childs designed the garden, its symbolic elements and the planting strategy.
Matthew Childs and Bridge to 2030 Garden
The webinar will go into detail behind the meaning behind the quarry landscape, fluctuating water levels and its slate stepping stones which symbolises death transforming into a bridge of hope.
Now a Reigate community project, the garden has been relocated to Croydon Sexual Health Centre.
There will also be a chance to ask Childs questions throughout the presentation.
Register for the webinar here.
by Holly Chapman | 23 Apr 25 | News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Gardeners Delight nursery will be heading to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the first time in its 30 year lifespan.
Its 6m x 4m containerised space in the Great Pavillion will hold 1,000 plants, including euphorbias, salvias, armeria, dahlias, thalictrum, nepitas, erodiums and achileas. The space will invite butterflies, dragonflies, bees and pollinators to Chelsea.
Founded by Nick and Hanna Wade, the Devon based nursery grows its plants peat-free and without the use of pesticides.
The duo began their flower show journey two years ago at RHS Malvern, before exhibiting at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and Malvern Three Counties Autumn Show, winning silver gilts at each. In 2024, they won Best in Show at RHS Rosemoor.
Hannah Wade comments:
“The chance to go to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this May is not just the culmination of the last three years of shows, but the highlight of our 30 years in horticulture.”
by Bethany Vann | 19 Sep 23 | Garden Design, News
Project Giving Back (PGB) has extended its support of gardens for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to 2025 and 2026.
Established in 2021, PGB pledged to fund 42 gardens at RHS Chelsea in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with an original investment of around £12m. The charity supported 15 gardens at this year’s event, including several award winners.
The success of the scheme is attributed as the reason for extending support for an additional two years. Speaking at the opening of the 2023 Gardens for Good Causes Exhibition, PGB’s CEO Hattie Ghaui, says: “We know from having to turn down some incredibly strong funding applications over the past couple of years that there are so many wonderful stories waiting to be told.”
The focus in the final two years “will be on funding gardens intended to be repurposed in UK locations not yet covered to date,” says PGB chair of trustees and RHS vice-president, Rosie Atkins, with a focus on charities and designers who will be delivering garden plans for Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, East Anglia and the North East of England.
Expressions of interest for 2025 funding will be open from 22 September to 3 November this year.
by Bethany Vann | 21 Jul 23 | Domestic Landscaping, Nature & Biodiversity, News, Topics
The Samaritans Listening Garden, which debuted at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, is now being reimagined for festivals. It will travel around the UK this summer in partnership with the Samaritans Festival Branch, including a trip to this weekend’s Latitude music and art festival.
Since Festival Branch’s inception in 1973, volunteers have attended around 550 festivals to date, providing support to almost 2,000 festival goers across 16 festivals in 2022.
The Samaritans’ show garden was awarded a Silver Gilt medal at Chelsea this year, with its planting and hard landscaping designed to create a calming environment, to encourage visitors to sit, reflect and listen.
A re-imagined version of the garden will attend this weekend’s Latitude Festival as part of its post-show purpose, a requirement for all RHS show gardens this year.
Darren Hawkes, the garden’s designer and listening volunteer, says: “Latitude is just one part of Samaritans Listening Garden’s legacy. As well as travelling to Eisteddfod in Wales next month, elements of the original garden will be relocated to a number of our branches this year, such as Taunton and Plymouth.
“Our core message that listening can save lives will be reaching more and more communities as time goes on and I personally can’t wait to work on its relocation at my own branch in Truro next year.”
Samaritans Listening Garden designed by Darren Hawkes Landscapes at Chelsea Flower Show London – May 2023 – sponsor Project Giving Back. Photography by Stephen Studd photographer
A remodelled version of the show garden will be permanently relocated at a Samaritans branch where it will continue to inspire and provide a safe haven for those who need it.
by Nina Mason | 25 May 23 | Garden Design, Nature & Biodiversity, News, Topics
Protestors from environmental campaign group Just Stop Oil have been arrested after throwing orange paint across the RBC Brewin Dolphin Garden this morning.
The garden, designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes, was targeted by three protestors around 9am. Hervey-Brookes has called the garden “permanently destroyed”, while contractor Gareth Wilson – who built the garden – wrote on social media that “fuming is an understatement.”
Wilson added that “stupidity knows no boundaries, especially as the RHS is pushing sustainability at the very top of its agenda. Gardens that aren’t sustainable simply don’t get accepted by the RHS.”
This year is the first year the RHS has made it mandatory that all gardens are relocated after the show.
The three activists have been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
