Chelsea buzz: Children Luca Daniel, Zakira Daniel, Lyla Daniel and Jasmine Hayden-Smith, with Grow2Know‘s Dannahue Clarke and Tayshan Hayden-Smith
(Picture: Lucy Young)Britain’s leading garden designers today hailed the “joyous” return of the Chelsea Flower Show to its traditional May timing at the heart of the London social season for the first time in three years.
The world’s most prestigious horticultural event was cancelled altogether in 2020 and moved to a one-off September slot last year because of Covid restrictions.
The break has been the longest peacetime interruption to the normal schedule of the Royal Horticultural Society’s showpiece event in its 109-year history.
But today the wraps came off 39 gardens, including 13 show gardens costing up to £500,000 each, ahead of a hoped-for visit from RHS patron the Queen, alongside the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Princess Beatrice this afternoon. The show opens to RHS members tomorrow and Wednesday and to the general public from Thursday to Saturday.
RHS director general Sue Biggs said: “Isn’t it lovely to be back in May. I’m really proud of everyone, I don’t think there’s been a more joyous Chelsea, everyone’s been in such a good mood.
“For the last two years it’s been a really stressful time for everyone, it’s not been an enjoyable time for anyone. Chelsea is simply full of joy... now we just need the rain to hold off.”
Ruth Wilmot, designer of the William Morris-inspired Morris & Co show garden on the showground’s Main Avenue, said of the return: “It’s joyful, it spreads so much happiness and it brings together so many people in the industry, you don’t know how much it means until it’s not there. It’s absolutely fantastic that it’s back... it has such a big impact.”
One of the event’s most decorated designers, Sarah Eberle, who has won gold medals in more categories than anyone else and been exhibiting since 1990, said: ”It’s great to have it back. It was weird in 2020, that was the only time I’d been at home in Hampshire in May.”
Celebrities expected to attend today’s preview include Jeremy Irons and Amanda Holden, DJ Nick Grimshaw, Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas and singer Neneh Cherry.
Themes this year include the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with her favourite lilies of the valley in the Great Pavilion and sustainability, with a garden full of pollen-rich plants to attract bees.
