Chelsea Flower Show goes GREEN

The Chelsea Flower Show is Here... Opening times May 24–27 • 8am -8pm May 28 •8am–5.30pm; and the big sell off starts at 4pm

Address: Royal Hospital Chelsea London, SW3 4SL

Getting there

Find out the best ways to travel to and from RHS Chelsea Flower Show

The world renowned Chelsea Flower Show opening day featured glorious sun and celebrities, albeit with gale force winds. That didn't stop this year's show, now in its 98th year, from being as big (with 17 gardens competing for top prizes) and beautiful as ever. The themes: "wild" rather than formal, vertical green walls, lots of insect habitats, roof gardens and a series of 7 natural and sustainable small gardens. Where to begin...

The impressive garden was opened yesterday by Gwyneth Paltrow, who has a vested interest in the 'grow your own' philosophy thanks to a chapter in her new cookery book 'Notes From My Kitchen Table' on cultivating fruit and vegetables.

Gwyneth posed in front of the towering structure - a glass high-rise-like building complete with window boxes full of vegetables.

B&Q celebrity ambassadors Kirstie Allsopp and George Clarke and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly also made an appearance.
B&Q say that the garden aims to showcase how everyone can grow their own food, however large or small their outdoor space.
'From vertical window boxes filled with herbs an to habitats for animals, the garden was intended to be a sanctuary for wildlife and a feast for visitors,' they said. 

The B&Q Garden

The tallest-ever garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, The B&Q Garden has been designed to encourage individuals and communities to develop sustainable food growing spaces and enhance urban greening, no matter what the size of their plot. One way B&Q is able to do this is through the introduction of the new Vertical Grow Box, now in store and helping the nation get to grips with vertical gardening.
Everything growing in the garden is edible. A potting shed incorporates composting, rainwater harvesting and storage, a thermal chimney, photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine.
The planting scheme features both ornamental and native species and demonstrates the diversity of our edible plants. It includes rhizomes, bulbs, leaves, flowers, fruit and seeds. 
Expert commentary by Chris Young - Editor of The Garden
The tower is the element most people will talk about and rightly as it brings a new concept of planting and 'greening' to the city. The lower, ground-level planters that house the mix of ornamental planting and edible plants (including strawberries and thyme) are a really good addition to space - easy to use and great to look at.

For just £40 per head, you can travel from Dorset to the door of the Chelsea Flower Show with 5 friends  in style and luxury - Book your trip today