Upcoming: RHS Greening Grey Britain Garden 2017

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017 is already proving to be a busy year for Landform. Besides building a show garden and two artisan gardens, we are very pleased to be building the RHS Greening Grey Britain Garden 2017.

This exhibit is an unjudged show feature, designed by Nigel Dunnett, professor of planting design and director of the Green Roof Centre at the University of Sheffield. This will be our 4th Chelsea Flower Show collaboration with Nigel (we also built the main RHS exhibit for him at Hampton Court Flower Show in 2015).

Focusing once again on the challenges of climate change and rapid urban development, the urban garden is given the backdrop of high rise blocks of flats. All of Nigel’s gardens emphasise the importance of green spaces in tackling pollution & climate change, but they go a step further by contributing to the community, health and well-being. For inner cities, where space is at a premium and temperatures & pollution are high, the garden will provide “take home” solutions for individuals and communities.

The exhibit will tackle semi-private spaces as well as community spaces, incorporating a rain garden and wetland pool, bio-swales, habitat log-pile wave forms and towers to attract wildlife. Other features will include areas for bike storage, recycling & compost facilities, and edible planting. The plants will be recognisable and widely available so that people can easily translate these ideas into their own gardens and community spaces.

Nigel describes his planting style as ‘low-input, high impact’, low maintenance plants that deliver a long lasting display and are beneficial to insects and birds. Perhaps the main importance underlined by the setting for the garden is just how beneficial it can be for people. Nigel has said:

“We know that gardens and gardening bring people together, and there’s now overwhelming evidence that they make us feel better and healthier. These ideas are central to the design.”

Another first for RHS Chelsea, the exhibit will feature the show’s first ever street-art wall, created by artist Jo Peel. The feature wall will link urban life back to nature.

We hope to bring you more on the exhibit during the build.