National Garden Scheme garden wins an RHS Gold Medal at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show
and live on Freeview channel 276
“It’s a fantastic conclusion to months of planning. Working with the superlative team of Tom Stuart-Smith and Crocus has been hugely rewarding and the support from Project Giving Back has created a garden so worthy of Gold. It’s overwhelming,” says National Garden Scheme CEO, George Plumptre.
“I’m very very happy for everyone who has been involved in the garden. It’s wonderful for the National Garden Scheme and wonderful for the Crocus team who have put all this together. The materials you’re working with are so extraordinary that it’s really nature and plants that ought to be congratulated too,” said Tom Stuart-Smith.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAfter rave reviews from Adam Frost and Sophie Raworth on the BBC’s Chelsea prequel programme, the stars flocked to the National Garden Scheme Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on press day (Monday 20 May). Eager to catch a glimpse of Tom Stuart-Smith’s exquisite planting that has created a garden of soft, shaded tranquility among the show gardens on main avenue and to enjoy the craftsmanship of the beautifully crafted oak hut, visitors were not disappointed.
Dame Mary Berry, President of the National Garden Scheme said: “The garden makes me feel at peace and at ease. I love the tranquility of the white.”
Gardening legend Alan Titchmarsh added: “You walk into it and, because the colour scheme is so cooling, whites, green and canopy of hazels over the top, it is instantly calming.”
“There is just so much serenity within this garden – I dressed accordingly – it’s just so peaceful and so beautiful.” National Garden Scheme ambassador, DJ Jo Whiley.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdComedians Josh Widdicombe, Ivo Graham and Suzi Ruffell arrived en masse and enjoyed the experience of visiting the garden. “It’s the first one we’ve visited and it’s all downhill from here!” said Josh Widdicombe.
“It’s my first visit to Chelsea, it’s busy but this garden is very calming. I could live in any of these gardens, but this is more me. I love the structure.” Josh O’Connor, actor.
“This garden is absolutely magical. Beautiful.” Sophie Raworth, TV presenter and daughter of long-term National Garden Scheme garden openers and volunteers.
“It’s so soft and calming – lovely shades of green showing that you can be constrained with colour – so elegant, lovely.” Prue Leith.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“It’s so tranquil. Such nourishment for the soul,” TV presenter, Anneka Rice
“Every element is exquisite and perfect. I’m moving in tomorrow,” Simon Lycett, celebrity event florist.
The tranquiltly is expertly and purposefully designed into a garden that will form part of a new Maggie’s at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge after the show.
If watching the press coverage of this year’s Chelsea Flower Show has inspired you to visit some NGS gardens, here are some West Sussex gardens opening in June.
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June
Saturday 1st, 15th and Sunday 16th June.
Saturday 1st June, pre-booking essential.
Tuesday 4th June
Sunday 30th June and every Thursday. Pre-booking essential.
Friday 7th and Sunday 9th June.
Saturday 8th, Tuesday 18th and Saturday 22nd June.
Sunday 9th June.
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June with The Shrubbery.
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June with The Old Rectory.
Sunday 9th June.
Wednesday 12th and 19th June.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdFriday 14th, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June. Pre-booking essential.
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June.
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June.
Saturday 15th June.
Sunday 16th and Monday 17th June.
Thursday 20th and Sunday 23rd June.
Friday 21st June.
Sunday 23rd June.
Sunday 23rd June.
Wednesday 26th June with Nightingale House
Wednesday 26th June with Brambletye
Friday 28th and Saturday 29th June.
Saturday 29th June, pre-booking essential.
Sunday 30th June
Sunday 30th June
For further details, opening times, entrance fees and directions to the gardens visit https://ngs.org.uk and enter the garden name. Look too for West Sussex gardens opening By Arrangement
Direct links to West Sussex NGS June opening gardens
Why support the National Garden Scheme
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, and raises impressive amounts of money for some of the UK's best-loved nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake.
Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors we have donated more than £70 million to our beneficiary charities, and in 2023 made donations of over £3.4 million. Founded in 1927 to support district nurses, we are now the most significant charitable funder of nursing in the UK and our beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe National Garden Scheme doesn’t just open beautiful gardens for charity – we are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. We fund projects which promote gardens and gardening as therapy, and in 2017, we launched our annual Gardens and Health Week to raise awareness of the topic. Our funding also supports the training of gardeners and offers respite to horticultural workers who have fallen on difficult times.
To learn more about the National Garden Scheme, discover your perfect garden or find out how to open your own garden, visit ngs.org.uk, download the National Garden Scheme app or purchase the National Garden Scheme’s Garden Visitor’s Handbook, which is published annually and available via ngs.org.uk/shop and at all good book retailers.