RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Sponsored by M&G Investments
SponsorshipWe are delighted to announce that ‘The M&G Centenary Garden’ was this morning awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society’s panel of judges. It was one of only ten gardens to receive a Gold Medal at this year’s Show.
Roger Platts says: “I’m immensely proud to have been part of RHS Chelsea’s Centenary year, and to have designed a Gold winning garden for M&G Investments that reflects the Show’s past and present theme. I wanted to design a garden that would play on the timeless history of British gardens over the past one hundred years, but also focus on the consistent elements; an approach that is intrinsic to M&G Investments’ own values”.
Jacqui Haskins says: “We are delighted to have been awarded a Gold Medal in this year’s extra special Centenary Show. It has been an absolute pleasure working with Roger Platts and his team for a second time, and the result is testament to their hard work. We are thrilled with the garden that has been created for us and how it reflects the Show’s Centenary theme.”
Voting opens today for The People’s Choice Award, so remember to cast your vote.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 runs from 21st - 25th May.
Roger Platts’ design embraces both new and traditional garden features; from modern sculpture to planting threaded with historical shrubs popular in the 1900s.
A contemporary sculpture window in one corner of the plot frames the garden for visitors, but also gives the impression of looking back at a century old RHS Chelsea garden. Gazing through the window, visitors’ eyes will be drawn to a traditional sandstone and brick wall at the far end of the garden; broken only by a mullioned window and cast iron gate.
Upholding the theme ‘Windows through Time’, a small pool positioned in front of the wall is surrounded by a selection of damp and shade-loving plants, including ferns, foxgloves, acers and irises; water and rock have been popular elements at RHS Chelsea over the past hundred years. The wall’s cast iron gate will lead the eye through to another selection of historical planting inspired by the 1900s, using holly, laurel and rhododendron.
A brick wall and hedge, running along the longer edge of the garden, contains a kissing gate, leading to an imaginary orchard. To the side is a log pile, which reflects today’s consideration for wildlife and is surrounded by grass and wildflowers, as well as more formal planting, to celebrate current garden styles. A structure of evergreens will also run through the garden including Myrtles, Buxus and Cistus.
The centre of the garden reflects on timeless design classics and integrates paths of paved sandstone that thread through beds of roses and perennial flowers. A central sandstone terrace displays an oak summer house with a conical thatched roof.
For further information on our sponsorship and the progress on our garden please visit our Chelsea microsite.
Visit our dedicated Chelsea Flower Show website, where you can find more information about our sponsorship of the show, 'The M&G Garden' and its designer.
