Sophie Raworth and Joe Swift kick off the week at the Royal Horticultural Society’s 2018 Chelsea Flower Show with their guide to the exciting new gardens and plants on display. They meet some familiar faces at the show as Nick Knowles joins them to look at gardens that raise awareness, and Floella Benjamin brings an important turning point in British history to the show with the Windrush exhibit.
Adam Frost and Carol Klein join the gardening team with some new faces and old favourites lined up to take a look at some highlights from the show.
Chelsea Flower Show episode 2 2018
The world’s most prestigious flower show that inspires millions and leads the way in innovative garden design. The Chelsea Flower Show receives a lot of publicity. It is attended by 157,000 visitors each year (a number limited by the capacity of the 11-acre (45,000 m2) ground), and all tickets must be purchased in advance. From 2005 the show was increased from four days to five, with the first two days only open to RHS members.
Several members of the British Royal Family attend a preview of the show, as part of the royal patronage of the RHS. The area of land devoted to show gardens increased steadily between 1970 and 2000 and the show has become an important venue for watching trends. New plants are often launched at the show and the popularity of older varieties revived under the focus of the horticultural world. It is the garden design equivalent of a catwalk at a fashion show.
