ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

On Tuesday 27th January ODGC welcomed again Tamsin Westhorpe, author and proprietor of Stockton Bury Gardens.  She has been a judge at Chelsea for ten years.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show was founded in 1913 and occupies a 23 acre site.  Described by Tamsin as the Paris catwalk fashion show of the plant world it exists to fulfil the following functions:-  to promote cutting edge design, introduce new plants, products and innovations, promote the industry, create discussion, raise awareness of causes and encourage new gardeners.  The Great Pavilion is large enough to accommodate 500 red London buses and 168,000 visitors attend each year.

It is a great privilege to be asked to judge Chelsea and it is a voluntary role.  The judge designate will do little during the first two years except watch and listen.  Judges must possess a skill set comprising gardener, landscaper, designer and plantperson.  There are  judges for different categories – show gardens, small gardens, trade stands – and they are not permitted to cross over.  Judging takes two days and takes place over the weekend.  A maximum of 36 marks is awarded, a Gold medal requires 30 to 36 marks and surprisingly there is not a set number of medals for each category, Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver and Bronze.  Other categories include Best in Show, People’s Choice and Construction Award.  The judging panel is anxious that exhibitors should do as well as possible and feedback is always given.

Creating a Chelsea garden is not for first timers.  It is a 15 month process and selection involves factors including design, budget, sponsorship and carbon footprint.  Plant health is critical, some trees are quarantined for over a year and a list of proscribed plants is issued to designers.  Show gardens are built in 19 days, remain on site for 30 days and are dismantled in 5 days.  The judges must consider how well the brief is interpreted, overall impression and construction, hard landscaping must conform to building regulations and the planting design, association and implementation.  The head must rule the heart, these gardens have to work as after the Show they will be dismantled to give pleasure elsewhere.   The RHS checks that this is done.

Tamsin’s illuminating insight left us with renewed admiration, not only for those who create these amazing gardens, but for those who judge them with meticulous care.

Ghislaine Arundale