The M&G Garden from Chelsea 2012 |
On 19th May, thousands of horticulture fans will
head to the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea to take in some of the most
stunning displays the garden world has to offer. The Chelsea Flower Show remains incredibly
popular, and it’s not hard to see why.
If you’re heading down to the biggest garden event in the
world, you might be a bit stumped as to which of the many hundreds of displays
on offer you should check out. We’ve already
earmarked these…
For nature lovers, The Laurent-Perrier Chatsworth Garden
It’s a mouthful of a name, but this garden looks like it
will be a superb representation of the 105 acre Chatsworth Garden, all slotted
into a smaller Chelsea space. Inspired
by both the ornamental trout stream of Chatsworth and the Paxton Rockery, this
garden will reflect the lightness, freshness and delicacy of the almost iconic
Champagne House.
For eco-lovers, The Royal Bank of Canada Garden
The Royal Bank of Canada have contributed a garden at the
event for the last five years, and they’re returning again with this Matthew
Wilson-designed space. Exploring
sustainability through design, the garden is split into three sections: a zero
irrigation ‘dry garden’, a central water harvesting and storage zone and then
an edible garden complete with a full dining platform. It’s set to be one of the most unique spaces
at the show.
For history fans, The Living Legacy
Created to mark the 200th anniversary of
Wellington’s victory at the battle of Waterloo, the Living Legacy garden will
take in the fascinating atmosphere of the battle and work through into a
brighter look that represents the progressive and positive future that occurred
post-battle. Elements of the garden are
in fact directly inspired by the terrain at Waterloo itself.
For travellers, The Hidden Beauty of Kranji
The debut of John Tan and Raymond Toh at the flower show,
the Hidden Beauty is heavily inspired by the suburb of Singapore known for its
lush natural landscape, tropical plants, orchid farms and wetlands. The garden is filled to the brim with
tropical plants and ferns and is flanked by coconuts, palms and figs. If you want to be whisked away to a foreign
shore, The Hidden Beauty is a must-see.
For traditionalists, The Retreat
The brainchild of award-winning designer Jo Thompson, The
Retreat is the work of show sponsors M&G Investments. With a beautifully crafted oak-framed
building, a natural dipping pool and an assortment of irises, roses and
geraniums spread across the plantation, it almost resembles a classic English
country garden: a must for any flower show in itself.
Where to stay?
If this is the first time you’ve headed to London, there are
three main options you should look at in terms of where to stay.
·
Hotel rooms.
This might well be the best option if you want to be as close to the
event as possible. Given that the event
is in central London, it should come as no surprise that there are hundreds of
rooms within easy reach! Chelsea is one
of the most expensive areas in the capital, though, so rooms won’t be cheap.
·
Bed and breakfasts. A budget option if you don’t want to stump up
for a hotel room, B’n’Bs can cheaper than hotels. The one thing to consider is that you often
don’t get the mod-cons such as breakfast and dinner or daily cleaning that
you’ll get in a hotel.
·
Serviced apartments. A great option for those travelling as a
family or as part of a larger group. For
the price of an equivalent hotel room, you can enjoy a full apartment with a
complete living area and kitchen. If
you’re staying for the full show and want something bigger than a single hotel
room, a serviced apartment from the likes of Refresh
Apartments could be ideal.
Above all else, remember to have a brilliant time: the
Chelsea Flower Show is something that every single gardening fan should visit
at least once, but preferably more. Get
your tickets, and get down to London on 19th May!
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