The countdown is officially on and it’s only a matter of weeks until the most celebrated (and our personal favourite!) event in the horticultural calendar returns! The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is renowned for showcasing cutting-edge garden design and horticultural trends, and this year is going to be no different. With key themes set to include climate-resilient planting, animal-friendly designs, and ‘your space, your story,’ as well as the debut of artificial intelligence at the show, it’s going to be an unmissable one. Here’s what we can expect to see.
Focus on the future
Many of this year’s designs will focus on the future of gardening, and how we can harness technology to enhance efficient and climate-friendly practices. Let’s take a closer look….
Technological innovations
For the first time, the show will feature a garden that harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Designed by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 gold medal-winning duo Tom Massey and Je Ahn, the Avanade ‘Intelligent’ Garden will include a curated selection of climate-resilient trees and plants, all of which will be monitored by AI. The innovative concept will use AI technology to feed data back to the gardener about conditions in the garden, making it easier for people to garden more sustainably. One thing is for sure, this is a topic that is going to get people talking!
Garden of the Future
The Garden of the Future envisions a world grappling with escalating climate challenges. Across the globe, including here in the UK, countries are facing rising temperatures, more intense weather events, prolonged droughts, and sudden, heavy rainfall. The garden will showcase climate-resilient plants, such as Crataegus monogyna that can survive in a range of challenging conditions, as well as being disease and pest-resistant. The demonstration garden will show visitors how to harness innovation to grow plants and crops in climate-resilient ways – a pertinent subject that we’re sure will be seen widely across the showground.
Seawilding Garden
The Seawilding Garden will draw inspiration from the landscape of Loch Craignish on the west coast of Scotland, the home of Seawilding. Designed by Ryan McMahon, it will capture the essence of a coastal environment, with sandstone rock outcrops rising from a saltwater pool and pebble beach. These natural features will create diverse planting zones, ranging from boggy areas to slightly elevated, well-drained soils.
This is the first time seagrass will be showcased at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, emphasising the growing importance of marine conservation in the fight against climate change. We can’t wait to see how it goes down!
Challenging preconceptions
Each year, numerous garden designers utilise the platform to highlight a range of topics, and this year is no exception. Many of the show gardens featured this year will focus on challenging societal prejudices and misconceptions with a spirit of optimism and positivity.
Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden
In 2023, Manoj Malde made history at Chelsea when he tied the knot in a stunning ceremony on Press Day. This year, he returns to design a garden inspired by the scientific and medical breakthroughs in HIV treatment. His garden, Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden, will showcase statues by Ralph Bourdoukan and feature a gazebo designed to inspire reflection.
Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden
Another garden aiming to challenge societal misconceptions is the Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden by Nick Burton and Duncan Hall. Inspired by Duncan’s nephew, Liam, this garden seeks to challenge the stereotypes surrounding Down’s Syndrome. The design features a semi-wooded space with a path that leads visitors to a vibrant building adorned with decorative tiles.
Garden of compassion
Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist Tom Hoblyn will return this year with a garden inspired by the peaceful Mediterranean landscapes, such as the Olive Houses in Mallorca. His design thoughtfully examines how natural, grounded spaces can offer comfort and tranquillity in the final stages of life.
Seeding success
The King’s Trust supports young people in achieving success across various fields, and designer Joe Perkins highlights the connection between the growth of pioneer plants and seeds, which thrive through care and nurturing. The garden serves as a vibrant social space, exuding optimism and boldness, featuring screen-printed glass panels that flow through the area — a creative depiction of seed dispersal.
Pathway garden
The Pathway charity is dedicated to helping people move beyond homelessness, and Robert Beaudin and Allon Hoskin’s garden aims to create a similarly welcoming and supportive space. The design features no dead ends, instead focusing on interconnected areas. A bench and pergola offer sheltered spots for rest, while the planting includes Alnus glutinosa and Corylus avellana. Statement boulders symbolise the obstacles many encountered on their journey out of homelessness.
Naturalistic and Informal Designs
In 2024, the show significantly shifted away from traditional gardening rules, with people growing in ways that reflected their personal interests and personalities, rather than focusing solely on aesthetics or subsistence.
We’re predicting much of the same this year. RHS Chelsea designer Ros Coutts-Harwood, who will collaborate with Tom Clarke to create the Children with Cancer UK “A Place To Be…” garden. The design features a playful monorail, a pool, and a winding path leading to a serene, reflective space symbolising a nest. The garden will offer children a carefree, happy, and grounding experience, allowing them to connect with the natural world.
It will be a place where children recovering from cancer can escape the pressures of doctors, anxious parents, and their own fears—a sanctuary where they can simply be themselves. A space to find happiness, peace, reflection, healing, renewal, and grounding through nature – just a place to be.
Climate-Resilient Gardening
Planet-friendly gardening is going nowhere, and for good (and obvious!) reasons. This year at Chelsea, designers will continue to focus on addressing climate issues through garden design, including water-wise plants and permeable paving.
Save for a Rainy Day Garden
The Killik & Co ‘Save for a Rainy Day Garden’ is a contemporary family garden crafted to endure the unpredictable weather brought about by climate change. As temperatures increase, plants typically found in the South of France may now flourish in southern England. To accommodate these changes, the garden features resilient ‘future trees’ such as Zelkova serrata and Pinus mugo ‘Mughus,’ which are capable of withstanding drought, flooding, and higher temperatures.
Animal-Friendly Gardens
Survival Garden
The SongBird Survival Garden is inspired by the daily life of a bird, offering an engaging and playful space for children to explore and connect with the world of songbirds.
At the heart of the garden will be a birdhouse den made from reclaimed materials, featuring six hand-crafted metalwork motifs of threatened UK songbirds. Bird-friendly planting offers natural food, nesting materials, and shelter. A circular pond will provide shallow water for birds to drink and bathe in, completing the habitat.
Dog friendly space
As a team of animal lovers, we couldn’t conclude our blog without mentioning Monty Don’s unique approach to this year’s event by creating a garden designed specifically to accommodate his dogs. Featuring elements like manicured lawns and shaded areas, the garden will emphasise the bond between gardeners and their canine companions.
He will be 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 played throughout the show from the summerhouse.
And that was our whistle-stop tour of what to expect this year at Chelsea! It looks like this year’s designers will continue to create masterpieces that not only delight our senses but also inspire and engage us like never before. Mark the date in your diary and get ready to be amazed as the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea are transformed into a display of floral beauty and botanical creativity.
Looking for RHS Chelsea Flower Show support?
As a home and garden PR agency, we specialise in supporting garden designers and horticultural brands at events like RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We know Chelsea inside out (if we do say so ourselves!), having supported clients including David Austin Roses, Darwin Alternatives, Henchman, Oxenwood, Hillier and Seedball over the years. Check out the results we delivered for Darwin Alternatives.
If you’re interested in learning more about our services, get in touch or pop us an email on hello@honestcommunications.co.uk
Until then, we’ll see you at the show!
