Chelsea garden unveiling! The RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden has just been revealed
The RHS have unveiled the RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden, designed by David Dodd, which will be displayed at the Chelsea Flower Show 2021, from 21st to 26th September, in London.
The impressive, lush design of the RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden will take the largest plot at Chelsea this year. Filling 433m2, it will make a huge statement to visitors as they come in through the main entrance.
The purpose of the garden is to celebrate the beauty of trees and woodland environments, as well as encouraging people to take part in The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative and plant a tree themselves (more info below).
The garden's designer, David Dodd, has created a tall, tree-filled space to show off the green and purple colours of the UK's woodland and remind us how important it is that we all do what we can to protect it.
Design features: RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden
The RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden will feature 21 towering trees that will make a huge visual impact on the Chelsea Flower Show horizon. The trees will include multi-stemmed Swedish birch, hornbeam and beech. They will stand proud on a floor covering of grassland and a colourful wildflower meadow. The design is built to provide a perfect habitat for wildlife.
The garden is created to reflect the potential of biodiverse regeneration and just how much greenery can be packed into a relatively small space.
Of the 3,500 plants included, we will see anemone ‘September Charm’, untrimmed box ball hedges (this more natural look reduces the possibility of blight) and saxifraga 'Kinki Purple.'
The RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden will also feature three hay bale sculptures which represent the link between nature, agriculture and the countryside.
Design features:
21 trees
grassland
wildflower meadow
wildlife-friendly
433m2
untrimmed box hedges
colourful planting
3 hay bale sculptures
David Dodd has been involved in Chelsea for years but this is the first garden he has designed. Talking about his design debut, he said: “I have built many gardens at RHS Chelsea but this is the first one I have designed and I am so passionate about the message of the garden. I really hope it encourages everyone across the country to get involved in tree planting.
“Whether it be a small single tree in someone’s garden, or getting involved in community projects to plant new woodlands or forests we can all do our part in creating better habitats for wildlife and helping fight climate change. And happily – October is the perfect time to plant trees!”
More from Chelsea 2021:
Finding Our Way: An NHS Tribute Garden meaning and design explained
Who is Tom Massey, the gardener to design the first organic garden at RHS Chelsea?
What is The Queen’s Green Canopy?
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a tree planting initiative launched in celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The project aims to invite people to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.”
The QGC is asking the nation to start planting trees from October 2021, at the start of the tree planting season, all the way through to the end of 2022. You can plant one in your garden, a community space, a school or a workplace – anywhere, in fact! Although permission must always be sought for planting on communal and private land.
The idea is that the new trees will become part of Queen Elizabeth's legacy, following her 70 years of service. The project promotes sustainability and looking after the environment and will benefit future generations for years to come.
Tim Upson, Director of Horticulture Education & Communities said: “The RHS is delighted to be supporting the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show not only for the benefit of our environment but also to honour our patron, Her Majesty The Queen. Planting trees is something all gardeners can do to positively tackle climate-change and help wildlife. By planting trees the UK’s 30 million gardeners can together, collectively create a legacy for future generations.”
Sir Nicholas Bacon, Chair of The Queen’s Green Canopy said: “We hope the garden at the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show inspires millions of people across the United Kingdom to get involved and ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.
“The Jubilee is an important event – in 2022, The Queen will become the first Monarch in English history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee – 70 years of service.
“The Queen’s Green Canopy is giving everyone the opportunity to celebrate this remarkable milestone by planting trees with care, at the right time of year, in the right place so they will thrive for generations to come.”
What will happen to RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden after Chelsea?
The trees featured in the RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden will all be relocated to RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, Greater Manchester. They will create three new copses of trees within the Victoria Meadow as part of the QGC initiative.
You Might Also Like
