After a few years away, I
returned to the Chelsea Flower Show for press day this year, enticed by the intriguing
pre-show concepts that promised fresh inspiration. The show, with its rich history
and tradition, always manages to capture the imagination of garden designers
and enthusiasts alike. This year was no exception.
First, let’s talk about irises. They were everywhere. Virtually every main show garden featured one variety or another, a fitting choice for this time of year.
Apart from that planting
styles leaned heavily towards soft, wispy, and naturalistic themes. While these
herbaceous perennials undoubtedly add beauty and charm, one might wonder how
they will look once they die back, a bare winter garden perhaps? However, this
observation is just a prelude to the central focus of my visit: the undeniable
impact of climate change on garden design.
Although no exhibitor seemed to explicitly
mention climate change, its influence on the show gardens was unmistakable. One
of the most significant takeaways from this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was
the prevalence of water features. Nearly every show garden incorporated water
in some capacity, many focusing on the excess rainfall we’ve experienced over
the past six months and strategies for managing it. Considering that show
gardens are planned at least a year in advance, it’s intriguing to speculate
about their prescient design choices.
Tom Stuart Smith’s white garden was certainly a visual delight, exuding a serene and ethereal beauty. I was also taken by the range of gardens in the balcony gardens showing a broad-brush stroke in terms of aesthetic and mood but all with the overriding message that small spaces can be beautiful places packed full of plants and colour. However, I was particularly interested in gardens that addressed the extremes of water and sun. The standout for me was the Terence Higgins Trust Garden, which captivated with its texture, contours, and use of Welsh topographical elements and materials, notably slate and boulders. This garden effectively demonstrated innovative water management techniques, making it a highlight of my visit.
Speaking with one of the
designers, I learned that the garden drew inspiration from an old Welsh mining
pit that would fill with water and gradually dry out. By using contours and
varying levels, the garden was designed to adapt to water flow, with wet-loving
and drought-tolerant plants strategically placed in different areas. This
thoughtful approach to water management was both practical and aesthetically
pleasing. I was surprised to learn that it only achieved a silver gilt medal. However,
it did leave me wondering how the bog areas would cope in years of extreme heat
and drought.
While it was encouraging to see a
focus on managing excess rainfall, I noticed a potential gap in addressing dry
weather and drought conditions. As designers and gardeners, we need to consider
both extremes and view them as opportunities for innovation. Rainwater
harvesting and storage, using attenuation tanks, could play a crucial role.
These tanks could not only be used to form underlying changes in garden levels
but also provide essential irrigation during dry spells, helping maintain boggy
areas and supporting the overall health of the garden.
In addition to the Terence
Higgins Trust Garden, several other gardens showcased innovative uses of water.
One garden featured a series of cascading pools that not only provided a
visually stunning centrepiece but also served as a natural filtration system.
This system purified rainwater, which was then used to irrigate the garden. The
combination of beauty and functionality in these designs was truly inspiring.
This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower
Show left me truly inspired by the innovative ways designers incorporated water
into their gardens. To my mind going forward, The RHS is not only best placed
but will have a pivotal role in educating the public about the
interconnectedness of weather extremes and the necessity of holistic approaches
to garden design. Their efforts to highlight sustainable practices and
resilient garden designs are more important than ever.
Reflecting on my visit, I
appreciated the shift towards more focused and less ostentatious gardens. This
evolution makes the show more accessible and relevant, to some extent shedding
its previous air of elitism. The gardens felt more grounded, with an emphasis
on practicality and sustainability. This shift is a positive change, aligning
with the broader movement towards environmental responsibility in gardening.
After all the oohs, ahhs, and
dazzling displays, we face critical decisions about the future of garden
design. The increasing unpredictability of weather patterns means that we must
design gardens that can withstand both floods and droughts. This year’s show
gardens have set a precedent for how we can achieve this balance.
I believe that water attenuation
systems will become a central feature in garden and landscape design. Although
they have been around for years, their full potential has yet to be realized.
Trust me, they are about to take centre stage. These systems not only help in
managing water efficiently but also in creating dynamic and adaptable
landscapes.
In conclusion, the RHS Chelsea
Flower Show 2024 was a testament to the evolving landscape of garden design.
The emphasis on water management, sustainability, and climate resilience was
both timely and necessary. As we look to the future, garden design must adapt
to the challenges posed by climate change. The innovative solutions showcased
at this year’s show offer a blueprint for creating gardens that are not only
beautiful but also resilient and sustainable.
It is up to us, as designers and gardeners, to take these ideas and implement them in our own work. By doing so, we can create gardens that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also equipped to handle the environmental challenges of the future.
Overall, my return to the Chelsea
Flower Show was a rewarding experience. It reminded me of the power of
thoughtful design and the importance of adapting to our changing world. As we
move forward, let us embrace these lessons and continue to innovate in our
gardens, creating spaces that are both beautiful and resilient.
The End.
David Keegan May 2024
To see more of the highlights from this years RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 follow his link