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Chelsea Flower Show: the public's favourite garden revealed!

Photo credit:  RHS/Neil Hepworth / Rachel Warne
Photo credit: RHS/Neil Hepworth / Rachel Warne

The Yeo Valley Organic Garden designed by Tom Massey has won the BBC / RHS People's Choice Award Best Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2021. Meanwhile, the Parsley Box Garden designed by Alan Williams has won the People's Choice Award in the best Artisan and Sanctuary Gardens category.

The Parsley Box Garden (pictured above), which was awarded a Silver medal by the judges, is a contemporary garden focused on conserving nature's bounty through fermentation and perseveration.

With self-sustainability at the heart of the garden, it is inspired by the celebrated Nordic restaurant Noma and is designed as a place to entertain friends, to dine and relax, as well as to be a space where fresh ideas are sown that challenge the stereotype of ageing.

'Wow. It is a huge honour to have received this award and for my first Chelsea garden too! I have loved every second of designing the garden and bringing it to life. It was a huge team effort, so a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved, and to those who voted.' Alan said.

Earlier in the week the judges awarded garden designers with medals (this year ranging from Gold to Silver) and Best in Show accolades, but the final vote is always given to the public to choose their favourite garden, and this time at the autumn show.

Because it's voted for by the public, this coveted award is a special one – in 2018 and 2019 the People's Choice Best Show Garden accolade was won by Mark Gregory's Welcome to Yorkshire gardens, and last year he also scooped the People's Choice Garden of the Decade for his first Welcome to Yorkshire Garden. Meanwhile in 2017 it was won by Chris Beardshaw for his Morgan Stanley Garden, which was particularly significant as it came days after judges awarded his garden a Silver-Gilt, a decision which caused some controversy.

And, as previous years have shown, there's a reason why the People's Choice Award winner is often a different one to the Best Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

RHS Judge Stephen Crisp previously explained: 'Because they [the public] vote with the heart and judges vote with the head! The public often don't see the subtle elements that influence the judging panels who get to visit the show gardens much more closely, and explore every single detail, which is important. The wow factor isn't always the winning factor.

People's Choice Award garden contenders

Show Gardens are beautiful and innovative spaces from world-leading designers.

As a reminder, here are the contenders...

Sanctuary Gardens harness the healing power and serenity of nature in spectacular real and conceptual gardens. Meanwhile, Artisan Gardens are stunning pockets of colour featuring a nod to the master craftsman.

Here are the contenders...

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