Spring is in the Air: The 2018 Chelsea Flower Show

Officially 105 years old but with roots dating back to the 19^th century, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at the Royal Hospital grounds has become a staple of the British calendar. The most prestigious and popular event of its kind in the world, 157,000 visitors across five days in May will grace The Great Pavilion to view the work of hundreds of exhibitors from across the globe. A major change to the show for 2018 is the extension of opening times for the Friday. The Chelsea Late Event will enable more visitors and provide entertainment in the form of live music, wandering artists, an artisan food market and a view of the Artisan Gardens by twilight.

The Great Pavilion

The size of two football pitches, the pavilion is the heart of the event and will provide attendees with an extensive plethora of horticultural delights to enjoy. Among the most exciting floral exhibits to view this year are Hampshire Carnivorous Plants, attempting their 20^th Gold in as many years, D’Arcy & Everest, celebrating their 25^th year, and on their 50^th anniversary at the show are Peter Beales Roses, who are marking the occasion with the announcement of a new rose. The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies will be depicting the four seasons with a creative flower and foliage display, Floral Fundamentals’ UNITY exhibit will be representing the various stages of bulb production, and Hillier Nurseries are working with the award-winning designer Sarah Eberle for the third time. Returning exhibitors for 2018 include Flowers from the Farm, Grafton Nursery, Orchideengarten, Ottershaw Cacti, Wack’s Wicked Plants and, back for the first time since 2007, fern nursery Fernatix.

The Gardens

New category Space To Grow will likely be grabbing many headlines this year, but there are still plenty of other events to get excited about as designers play with the overall theme of health and wellbeing. Inspirations for making your environment greener and eco-friendly solutions to recycling permeate the 2018 show. Designer Matt Keightley shows us how plants can make us happier and healthier, while Tom Stuart-Smith, on behalf of The Garfield Weston Foundation on their 60^th anniversary,  has created a calming, secluded retreat to make us feel better. Showing us how basic, sustainable materials can be incorporated into garden design, Sarah Price returns to the show after a five-year absence. Tom Massey makes his Chelsea debut by demonstrating how the dedication of displaced people can create the most beautiful of gardens in the harshest of environments, and working with LG Electronics Hay-Joung Hwang designs a futuristic tower block garden that reimagines the idea of vertical forests. Nothing feels better than taking your shoes off after a long, tiring day walking around the show. Give your feet the relaxing evening they deserve by treating them to the comfortable environment of one of our best serviced apartments in London. The rest of your body will likely appreciate it too! Discover more about the area and start planning your trip to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show by booking your apartment on +44(0)208 004 0007 or by filling in this booking form.