The world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by The Newt in Somerset, will once again shine a spotlight on the ways that gardening and gardens can contribute positively to our health and wellbeing, as well as to help the environment. 

Inclusive green spaces for socially deprived communities to connect with nature, and gardens for patient recovery in hospital make up some of the 12 Show Gardens announced today by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

The Royal Entomological Society Garden designed by Chelsea gold medal winner Tom Massey is inspired by the rich biodiversity found on brownfield sites, areas of wasteland that are highly beneficial to insect life. 

Horatio’s Garden designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg is a wheelchair accessible garden for patients recovering from spinal injury. The garden focuses on the evidence based needs of those in long term hospital care, providing a beautiful space away from clinical settings which supports their recovery. It will be relocated to Northern General Hospital in  Sheffield to benefit its patients and staff.

Korean designer Jihae Hwang highlights how a rewilding project in her home country has helped prevent native plants from becoming extinct. The Hoban Cultural Foundation: Land of Healing, Korean Mountain Light garden promotes balanced ecosystems found around the Jiri Mountain region, which grows over 1,000 native medicinal plants. 

Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows and Gardens, said: “It’s no coincidence that the restorative power of gardens and gardening – both for people and the environment – returns as the main theme for next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

“So whether you’re looking to create a wildlife haven on your doorstep, ideas to garden more sustainably or to brighten up your balcony, the 2023 show will be teeming with gardening inspiration to help you bring more plants into your home.”

Other Show Garden highlights include The Savills Garden by Mark Gregory, which champions how growing your own food can form the basis of a healthy lifestyle and The Nurture Landscapes Garden by Sarah Price, a low carbon garden that celebrates the art and craft of garden making.

For the second year, several of the Show gardens are being supported by grant-giving charity, Project Giving Back. Seven UK-registered charities have been selected for their Show garden funding and each will create a garden to help raise awareness for their cause.

The Great Pavilion, the jewel in Chelsea’s crown, will feature over 70 specialist nurseries including Raymond Evison Clematis and first-time exhibitors: mushroom-growers Caley Bros; Hedgehog Plants who are creating an epimedium theatre and Darren Everest Sweet Peas. A collaboration with Plant Fairs Roadshow will offer a platform for small independent growers new to Chelsea. 

RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 23 to 27 May 2023 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, more information and tickets available from rhs.org.uk/chelsea