Chelsea Flower Show update
RHS Chelsea just relaxed its long‑running ban on garden gnomes — the rule change (backed by King Charles) is only the second time a long‑standing show rule has been altered in 113 years (countryliving.com). Also, the Plant Heritage Missing Collector Garden will relocate to a permanent home at Chester Zoo after the show, keeping rare and exotic plant displays accessible year‑round (thechesterblog.com).
The RHS has invited celebrities to decorate gnomes that will be auctioned to raise money for its Campaign for School Gardening. (rhs.org.uk) The Curious Garden at Chelsea, designed by Frances Tophill, is scheduled to run 19–23 May 2026 and the space has been confirmed as a non‑competitive exhibit (it will not be judged). (rhs.org.uk) Design notes explicitly reference Highgrove and the project involves The King’s Foundation alongside RHS ambassadors, with Sir David Beckham and Alan Titchmarsh named as contributors to the garden concept. (rhs.org.uk) A celebrity gnome auction was staged previously at Chelsea in 2013, when figures including Sir Elton John, Dame Mary Berry, Lily Allen and Joanna Lumley took part. (rhs.org.uk) Following the show, the Plant Heritage Missing Collector Garden will be rebuilt on site at Chester Zoo from late autumn and will join the zoo’s five Plant Heritage National Plant Collections, including Nepenthes pitcher plants and rare cacti such as Copiapoa, Matucana and Turbinicarpus. (chesterzoo.org) Chester Zoo was formally recognised as an internationally important botanic garden by Botanic Gardens Conservation International in August 2025, and its International Conservation Academy educates roughly 120,000 schoolchildren a year. (chesterzoo.org) The show garden was created by the Planting Design Collective (a trio that includes Cheshire‑born designer Sally‑Anne Rees) and uses locally sourced materials — stone from Blackham Reclamation, oak from Grosvenor TimberWorks and hedging from The Big Hedge Co — with features such as stone “book” sculptures and museum‑style planted drawers. (chesterzoo.org)
