RHS announces virtual Chelsea Flower Show

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced it will be holding a virtual Chelsea Flower Show online between 18 and 23 May, the dates originally marked for the world-famous Show. 

Throughout the week, the RHS’s website will host free gardening content from around the world. And it’s hoped that Bible Society will be able to contribute. 

Each morning the show will start with a tour from one of the world’s leading garden designers, florists or gardening personalities of their own private gardens as they share their top design tips, favourite planting combinations and gardening trends with virtual visitors.  

Keeping gardening on the home-schooling curriculum, a daily School Gardening Club will provide a wealth of activities for families to get together, play, dig, grow plants and connect with nature. 

Only the very best nurseries and growers from across the country are chosen to exhibit at RHS Chelsea. Virtual visitors will get an insight into how some of the world’s best quality plants are grown, as a selection of UK growers take visitors on exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of their award-winning nurseries. 

Some will be replicating the spectacular plant displays that were due to fill the Great Pavilion, the jewel in RHS Chelsea’s crown, at home for the world to enjoy.   

For those looking to expand their gardening knowledge, throughout the week, every lunchtime, RHS Advisors will be joined by a special guest for an interactive Q&A session.  

RHS Director General Sue Biggs said, ‘We really hope the virtual show will help fill the gap caused by the sad, but necessary, cancellation of this year’s show and will inspire more people to get growing.’

Bible Society’s Psalm 23 Garden, designed by Sarah Eberle, had been set for this year’s show, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus. The garden will be at next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show instead. As plans develop for the Virtual Chelsea Flower Show, we will keep you posted.