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A Look Ahead at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016

Chelsea flower Show 2016

It's that time of the year again that has gardening enthusiasts up and down the country jumping with joy! This year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show is taking place between Tuesday 24th May - Saturday 28th May, and it's already looking very exciting. Find out the who, what, and where in this year's preview of the Chelsea Flower Show 2016.

What to expect:

Expect to be wowed by exceptional garden designs, be wondered by bizarre garden gadgets, and betwixt with horticultural inspiration from across the globe. There will be a floral arch in honour of the 90th Birthday of the RHS's most distinguished patron - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. And as always, a tremendous fusion of colour and life in the Great Pavilion, where more than 100 specialist plant breeders, nurseries and societies will create awe-inspiring floral exhibits. These two Focal points, amongst other displays, are examples of what makes the RHS Chelsea Flower Show one of the biggest events on the gardening calendar.

Build up to the 24th May

As the 24th draws ever closer, here's a look back at some of the progress from 4-5th May and Enjoy a behind-the-scenes interview with Tom Harfleet, RHS Chelsea Flower Show Manager, from the showground during the build-up.

Good work chaps,  keep up the work - imagine how good that great pavilion is going to look once it's brimming with floral colours! 

Things have moved on swiftly since then, and the flower show is definitely set to sizzle this year! 

RHS Front Garden Summit

One of the key points of the RHS Greening Grey Britain Campaign is about transforming dull, paved over front gardens into magnificent, vibrant planted areas. Statistics have shown that more than 5 million British front-gardens no longer have plants growing in them, and the front garden summit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show intends to bring this figure to the attention of the great British public. How can we turn our front gardens green again?  This is the question posed by the horticultural industry's best unto us. 

The Discussion will be streamed live on www.rhs.org.uk/frontgardensummit on 24th May from 5pm to 7pm, and you can tweet your comments using the hashtag #greeningreybritain.

Schedule:

Time

Speaker

Topic

5pm    Sue Biggs
  • Welcome & Introduction

5.10pm                   

Alan Titchmarsh
  • Front Gardens: are we really a nation of gardeners?
5.20pm  Ann-Marie Powell
  • Call for change: policy challenges
5.25pm  Rt. Hon. Greg Clark MP
  • Keynote address
5.35pm  Alistair Griffiths
  • Front Garden Science: front gardens can help save the planet
5.40pm  Nigel Dunnett
  • Solutions, inspirational ideas and amazing advice
6.05pm  Panel discussion: chaired by Alan Titchmarsh
  • How can we work together to create change in Britain's front gardens?
Panellists include:
  1. Alex Cunningham MP, Shadow Minister for the Natural Environment
  2. Trudi Elliott, Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institute
  3. Cllr Derek Antrobus, Salford City Council
  4. Andy Sturgeon, award-winning designer
7.05pm  Sue Biggs
  • Concluding remarks

 

Greening Grey Britain

Greening Grey Britain is the RHS's latest campaign to transform hard, grey areas into beautiful, living and enriching planted spaces by the end of 2017. You can make your promise to plant a tree, shrub, flower bed, window box, climber or other on the RHS website. Help to transform Britain, for the better with the RHS.


This year's highlights

  • Extraordinary Garden Designs - At this year's show, expect to see spectacular show gardens exemplifying the work of extremely talented, carefully selected garden designers. Your stop for inspiration. 
  • Celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday - The Queen will be celebrating her 90th birthday this year, and so to mark the joyous occasion, The RHS Chelsea Flower Show will feature photographic exhibits and a commemorative floral arch.
  • Health, Happiness and Horticulture - The theme of this year's show is the health and wellbeing benefits of greening-up Britain's grey spaces.  Features in the ‘RHS Greening Grey Britain Garden for Health, Happiness and Horticulture’, designed by leading garden designer and BBC presenter Ann-Marie Powell, provide inspiration for expert and novice gardeners alike.
  • RHS Front Garden Summit - As part of the Greening Grey Britain campaign, there will be a live Front Garden Summit Debate including industry experts such as Alan Titchmarsh and  Alistair Griffiths. British gardeners can tweet their comments using #greeninggreybritain
  • The Great Pavilion - The Great Pavilion is your source of amazing plants and flowers from over 100 specialist growers. If you're looking for beautiful plants, visit The Great Pavilion.

Plan Your Trip

This year, as always, the show is being held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, SW3 4SL. You can find directions, transport information and buy your tickets online at the RHS website. For your ultimate horticultural day out, why not find garden centres nearby and plan a Chelsea Flower Show to remember.