Local beekeper and Abingdon Horticultural Society chairman David Bingley presents the highlights of this year’s Chelsea Flower Show

The great thing about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is that it has something for everyone. Inspiration for the new garden, ideas for the tired garden, as well as something for that newly reclaimed space in an established garden.

Visitors going to Chelsea later in the week will once again see quality plants in superbly designed show gardens as well as on exhibit-ion stands in the Great Pavilion.

Greening Grey Britain is an initiative linking Britain in Bloom with the RHS who have identified that there are as many as seven million front gardens that contain concrete rather than plants, and the result is destroying habitats and food for wildlife, increasing flood risk and harming our health and wellbeing.

The winner of the BBC Great Chelsea Garden Challenge, Sean Murray, has designed an environmentally- friendly front garden fit for an aging couple of keen gardeners. The garden contains many interesting design and planting features with many great ideas to ponder and discuss.

Along Main Avenue are the 15 large gardens, the headline makers, where you will see, among others, a garden inspired by the charity supported by Prince Harry. Hope in Vulnerability is a garden designed by Matt Keighthly follow-ing his visit to Lesotho, the aim of the garden is to raise awareness of the Children’s Centre mission to tackle the stigma of HIV in adoles-cents and provide care and educat-ion for vulnerable young people.

Further along Main Avenue you will find the Time In Between garden — a poignant reminder of the designer’s time spent since the passing of his father. In his words, it is a space to reflect, contemplate, celebrate and enjoy life, perhaps a view we share with our own gardens. Linger along the edge of the garden to watch as the stone- lined pool empties and refills to catch the reflections of the plants that surround it.

The wide stone path meanders past the water feature and onwards to the sunken seated area, a space to reflect.

The Discovery section in the Great Pavilion demonstrates the interaction between science and horticulture. The area challenges our views of how horticulture will be in the future and opportunities that are available for young people.

The impressive stand supported by the UK Space Agency poses many questions — for example, how do you water plants in zero gravity?

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) have teamed up for a unique experiment. UKSA are sending 2.5kg of seeds into space; yes, they are Rocket seeds. The seeds will be exposed to the radiat-ion levels of space, on their return to earth they will be distributed to schools who will grow them alongside seeds which have not been into space, to compare the differences and possible effects of the space environment on the seeds.

The seeds will be available to schools who register with the RHS at rhs.org/schools gardening The UKSA facilities at Harwell are nearing completion and will have their official opening on July 9. Exciting times for Oxfordshire.

The Birmingham City Council stand is also stunning. Its design and inspiration has come from the 300-year anniversary of Birmingham’s Catherdral, it contains so many elements and features that can be viewed from close by as well as from across the pavilion. Don’t miss the willow-worked features of the parable of The Feeding of the 5,000, as well as the cathedral bell in the tower.

Moving plants and exhibition material round the world is never easy, but so many countries rise to the challenge for our enjoyment at Chelsea. Look out for the fiery colours of dahlias from Mexico and the beautiful orchids from Thailand. Grenada has brought over a huge range of colourful tropical rain forest plants as well spices and cocoa pods. It’s a wonderful display of plants — and viewing is often accompanied by the rhythm of steel drums.

The Floristry section can also be found in the three-acre main pavilion. This year’s theme celebrates 150 years of Alice in Wonderland, and it really is a tea party — complete with teapot and cup cakes.

Oxford Mail:
Royalty: Prince Harry discussing the Hope In Vulnerability garden with designer Matt Keightley 

A journey from Oxford to Chelsea just for a tea party? The world really has gone mad!

In the Floral Design Studio you will find many stunning exhibits of floral art by both groups and individuals. The Oxford Flower Clubs exhibit, with its Jurassic Coast-inspired display, is particularly impressive. Frances Buchan and Jackie Nichols have represented the club in magnificent style.

There are masses of catering outlets for snacks and lunch to suite all tastes, but if you are taking a picnic you will be well catered for. The picnic tables and benches are sheltered under the trees and the area is well signed and close to the Artisan gardens — a favourite of mine.

Each garden has a story to tell, with a range of hard landscape features and very effective planting.

The number one in the Serpentine walk is the Trugmakers Garden where you will see an artisan craftsman making his trugs from sweet chestnut and willow, surrounded by a typical Sussex country cottage garden. Along the line, you will pass celebrations of 1215, the signing of the Magna Carta, the Brewers yard from Yorkshire, the Breast Cancer Haven garden.

Number eight in the line is The Evaders garden sponsored by Chorley Council, the designer’s father was an RAF evader who was helped to freedom by ordinary French citizens after being shot down.

I hope you will appreciate the links between the evader, the helper and the mass planting of annuals and perennials around the ruined church. The parachute of carved Portland stone is an amazing feature of the garden design.

If you are off to Chelsea this week have an amazing time and remember: whatever plants you bring back, they will need space to grow and time to nurture!

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs until Saturday. Visit rhs.org.uk for details and tickets.