LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Visitors to the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, known for its serene and refined ambiance, will experience something extraordinary this year as they encounter the joyful sounds of children playing on a slide at the heart of the very first show garden designed by kids.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the organization behind the show, is on a mission to make gardening and nature more accessible to young people, aiming to inspire the next generation of horticultural enthusiasts. Horticulture has faced challenges in recent years, and numerous young people, especially those residing in urban areas, lack access to gardens, which this project seeks to address.
The garden, aptly named “No Adults Allowed,” is a creative collaboration led by a group of primary pupils from Sulivan Primary School in Fulham, London. These young designers have been passionately crafting their garden since the summer, and their vision is nothing short of unique. Some of the notable features include a hidden door, concealed from adult eyes, and an exhilarating slide that spirals through a water feature, leading to a cozy den. The garden is also adorned with a vibrant, lush meadow.
Over the course of their journey, the young designers will have around ten sessions working closely with the professional garden designer, Harry Holding. Holding will transform their imaginative gardening concepts into reality for the show, scheduled to grace the Royal Hospital Gardens next spring.
This initiative is part of the RHS’s ongoing efforts to make its shows, and gardening in general, more appealing and accessible to children. Last year, the RHS director general, Clare Matterson, hosted the inaugural children’s event at Chelsea, a picnic that brought together 100 young garden enthusiasts.
Clare Matterson stated, “Children gardening and growing plants is both joyous and beneficial for learning, development, and overall well-being. Much like our children’s Chelsea picnic, which will continue in 2024, I hope this garden will provide a special experience for all the children involved, igniting an interest in gardening that will stay with them throughout their lives.”
The “No Adults Allowed” garden will remain a cherished feature at Sulivan Primary School for pupils to relish. Additionally, other schools in the vicinity will be welcomed to explore the garden, enhancing its impact and reach.
Harry Holding shared his experience working with the young designers, saying, “I have loved working with the children at Sulivan Primary School to design this garden. They have been so creative and have come up with some brilliant – if somewhat challenging, in some cases – ideas. I managed to incorporate most of their ideas into the garden, but there were a few wackier ideas that didn’t make the cut, like live crocodiles and an underground lake with a trapdoor. With the garden, art, sculpture, and textural clay celebrate the childlike creativity innate in all of us, while sensory planting and natural materials create a nourishing space. Above all, it’s a celebration of the natural world and the joyous wonder children experience within beautiful landscapes.”
The “No Adults Allowed” garden promises to offer an enchanting and imaginative experience, unveiling the potential of gardening as a captivating and educational activity for children, while also celebrating the magic of the natural world.
