Excitement in the air as the build of the garden begins

We waited three years for today, and then we were half an hour early. Standing in the half-light at 6.30 am waiting for the gates to open at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show ground in a state of disbelief and excitement: the build was about to begin.

As diggers, lorries and cranes poured onto the site, a moment of silence fell on the 10m x 10m plot that would become the Psalm 23 Garden.

The Revd Luke Walton opened in prayer, commending it, designer Sarah Eberle, the build team, dry stone wallers, and even the judges and the media to God.

He prayed, ‘Bless this show at RHS Chelsea, where all God’s glory is in bloom, where creation speaks peace to the created, and where gardens recreate our perfect home. May this place, this garden in particular, restore the broken, strengthen the downhearted, inspire the weak.

‘Bless all who are guided to these pastures with waters of refreshment, paths of righteousness, days of goodness and love.’

He prayed that, as the build commenced, the team would know ‘the guidance of the good shepherd, the comfort of the restorer, the joy of the dinner host, the presence of the Spirit who calms and restores, the guidance of the shepherd who has overcome death, and the welcome of the Lord of the House.’

After two postponements due to Covid, this felt like an auspicious start. And then we were off, Eddie and Steve overseeing the lifting in of giant concrete blocks that will provide the back wall of the garden as it rises up in front of the iconic Royal Hospital, home to the Chelsea Pensioners.

Next followed the first 40 tonnes of rock that had been driven down from Scotland over two days earlier this week. More will follow over the weekend. And it was only 8.40 am.

Everyone was excited and focused. Having bought a round of coffees we’d served our usefulness, so we said goodbye to the professionals and let the hard work begin. Never has Psalm 23 looked like this.

Pictures: Bible Society/Clare Kendall.