Some gardeners at the Chelsea Flower Show may balk at the idea of a dog scrabbling around near their prize roses.
But Monty Don is designing his first Chelsea garden for next year’s event – and making it dog-friendly.
Viewers of Gardeners’ World will be familiar with Don’s pets, who accompany him as he plants and prunes, particularly his golden retrievers, Nigel and Nell, who both died in recent years. He now has a Yorkshire terrier, Patti, and recently adopted a golden retriever puppy called Ned.
Dogs, other than guide dogs, are not allowed at Chelsea, which is hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society. Organisers are including the dog-friendly garden to make the event more inclusive.
Clare Matterson, the director general of the RHS, said: “Over 2025, we really want to celebrate how we’re here for all gardeners – dog lovers, families, keen cooks, houseplant fanatics, everyone – and this garden is a great example of how individuals can all bring to life their passions in their outside spaces.”
Neatly mown lawns are not de rigueur at the show anymore, with a trend for rewilding and natural spaces encouraging designers to opt for wildflower meadows instead.
Don is bucking the trend. At the centre of the garden will be a manicured lawn, which he believes is essential for canine sprawling, sleeping, rolling, flopping, itching and chasing balls. He will also be including a large tree for shade, and bringing inspiration from his Longmeadow garden including brick paths, a summerhouse and a meadow planted with ornamental bulbs. Radio 2’s Jo Whiley will also be curating a dog-themed playlist for the garden, which will be playing throughout the show from the summerhouse.
The brick paths will be inscribed with the names of dogs belonging to Radio 2 presenters and RHS ambassadors, as well as Monty’s dog Ned. The garden will be relocated after the show to Battersea Dogs and Cats home, of which Queen Camilla is the patron, so her adopted Jack Russell Terriers, Beth and Bluebell, will also feature on the path.
Don said: “This is an irresistible opportunity to join with the RHS and Radio 2 to share my love of gardens and dogs at the world’s greatest horticultural event. Along with the superb team headed by Jamie Butterworth, we shall be making a garden that is inspired by Longmeadow and my own dogs but above all a celebration of the way that so many of us share our gardens with our canine companions.”
A tribute to Nigel, who died in 2020, is planted in Don’s Herefordshire garden: Don created a topiary golden retriever to watch over him when he gardens, just as Nigel did. He has previously said he likes dogs so much because they are “not humans”.
