RHS Chelsea Flower Show: all you need to know
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show will return to its traditional spring slot in May 2022 for the first time in two years and this year there’s set to be an emphasis on, “blossoming hedgerows, lush woodland and wildflower meadows, with wildlife-friendly hawthorn being one of the horticultural stars.”
As a result of the pandemic, the Chelsea Flower Show faced two uncertain years; in 2020 it was forced to take place virtually and in 2021 the show was postponed until September.
Thankfully, this year the show is set to return to the spring season and the event, which is sponsored by The Newt in Somerset, will take place from 24 to 28 May.
Set to take centre stage are gardens teeming with native plants, as designers embrace the wild and bring nature back, using native species rarely seen at RHS Chelsea to transform green spaces into wildlife-friendly havens.
Hawthorn will feature prominently alongside other woodland trees and shrubs including hazel, crab apple, weeping willow and hornbeam and we can expect to see swathes of green speckled with whites, creams and pinks.
Wild plants like nettles, cow parsley, poppies and nectar-rich buttercups will add to the pastel colour palette and continue the wildlife-friendly, naturalistic theme.
Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Gardens & Shows says, “We can’t wait to see the return of a spring RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2022 and welcome our visitors back after a two year wait. The show is jam-packed with stunning gardens and inspirational displays and with an abundance of wildlife-friendly planting, we won’t be the only ones buzzing!”
Official details about the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show have now been announced so we thought we’d take the opportunity to share everything we know with you.
When is the show?
The show will take place between 24-28 May and the first two days of the show, 24 and 25 May, are reserved for RHS members only. On the 24-27 May it’s open from 8am until 8pm, and on the final day it’ll be open from 8am until 5.30pm.
Where is the show?
The Chelsea Flower Show takes place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. The nearest tube stop is Sloane Square, which is approximately a 10-minute walk from the show ground.
How much are tickets and where can you buy them?
Tickets are priced at £35.85 for members, and from £40.85 for non-members and they are currently available to buy online here.
Can I become a member of the RHS?
Absolutely! Simply visit the RHS website to sign up now to enjoy unlimited days out in the RHS' five gardens, exclusive access to shows and expert advice, while helping support its charitable work. Individual membership currently costs from £49.75 per year.
Who is competing in this year’s Show Garden?
Last year the winner of the best show garden was the Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden designed by Peter Chmiel and Chin-Jung Chen. Here are the gardens competing in the Chelsea Flower Show 2022:
Alder Hey Urban Foraging Station designed by Howard Miller and Hugh Miller
MEDITE SMARTPLY ‘Building the Future’ designed by Sarah Eberle
St Mungo's Putting Down Roots Garden by Cityscapes (Darryl Moore & Adolfo Harrison)
Brewin Dolphin Garden designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes
The RNLI Garden designed by Chris Beardshaw Morris & Co. designed by Ruth Willmott
The Meta Garden: Growing the Future’ designed by Joe Perkins
The Perennial Garden ‘With Love’, designed by Richard Miers
The New Blue Peter Garden - Discover Soil by designer Juliet Sargeant
The RAF Benevolent Fund Garden, reflecting on the Battle of Britain and designed by John Everiss
A Rewilding Britain Landscape by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt
The Mind Garden designed by Andy Sturgeon
Who is taking part in the Sanctuary Gardens?
There are also garden designers who are keen to showcase their work without the competition, and these can be found in the Sanctuary Gardens. People taking part include:
The SSAFA Garden supported by CCLA and designed by Amanda Waring
A Swiss Sanctuary by Lilly Gomm
The Place2Be Securing Tomorrow Garden designed by Jamie Butterworth
ZEN Garden designed by Ishihara Kazuyuki
Circle of Life by Yoshihiro Tamura
The Body Shop Garden designed by Jennifer Hirsch
A Garden Sanctuary by Hamptons, designed by Tony Woods
Out of the Shadows designed by Kate Gould
The Boodles Travel Garden by designed Tom Hoblyn
Kingston Maurward The Space Within Garden by Michelle Brown
The Stitcher's Garden designed by Frederic Whyte
What else can you see?
There will also be the annual favourite competitions Plant of the Year, which is selected by a panel of 100 experts "to promote the continuing work of breeders and nurseries in producing improved and exciting new plants," and the newly-introduced House Plant Studios, which showcase indoor plants.
The Great Pavilion will also feature a new section called The RHS Potting Shed with everyone from plant nurseries to city councils displaying. There will also be a huge range of tradestands available for purchasing all the best garden products.
It promises to be a brilliant day out - let's just hope the British weather holds out.
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