Tuesday 4 December 2012
Windows through Time: Celebrating 100 Years of Chelsea Garden Design
In celebration of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s centenary, the 2013 M&G Show Garden story is aptly entitled ‘Windows through Time’ and captures the design trends and themes of RHS Chelsea Flower Shows past and present. Designed by award-winning RHS Chelsea stalwart Roger Platts, the show’s fourth title sponsor’s garden is a showcase of how British garden design has evolved whilst reflecting many recurring themes that have stood the test of time. This timeless approach reflects M&G Investments’ own approach to investments.
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.
Roger’s flair for planting will be apparent throughout the garden, from wild grasses and meadow flowers to cottage roses and nodding foxgloves.
M&G Investments has been the title sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Charity Gala since 2010. M&G, the founder of the UK mutual fund and one of Europe’s largest active investment managers, celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2011. Jacqui Haskins, M&G Marketing Director, commented “We are delighted to be back at RHS Chelsea as the title sponsor for the fourth year. The show centenary promises to be a huge celebration of garden design and we are thrilled to be part of it. Roger’s plans for the garden will not only remind visitors of how gardens have changed over the last century, but also reflects how many elements are timeless, an important value for M&G Investments.”
Roger Platts has previously won four gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as well as the People’s Choice Award for his 2010 M&G Garden. Speaking about his design, Roger said: “I’m delighted to be working with M&G again, especially in such an important year for the show. The theme of the garden reflects on the history of British gardens over the past hundred years, but also focuses on the consistent elements. It is a garden designed to capture what every visitor to Chelsea, whether in 1913 or 2013, would love to take home with them and is designed to bloom throughout the show week.”
Following M&G Investments’ success over the past three years at the show – a Silver-Gilt, two Gold Medals and a People’s Choice Award – the company is looking forward to returning to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for a fourth year.
The 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 21st – 25th May.
-Ends-
Notes to editors
Notes to editors:
• M&G launched the UK's first unit trust in 1931 and has continued this history of innovation ever since.
• M&G offers investors a wide range of funds across equities, bonds, property and multi asset.
For more information on M&G Investments, please visit www.mandg.co.uk
About Roger Platts
Roger Platts has been gardening from an early age. He trained in commercial horticulture and has worked on nurseries in the UK and Denmark before starting his garden design business in 1989.
He was fortunate to exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court from the early days of his business. His gardens at Hampton Court won him gold medals in 1992, 1993 and 2004 and at Chelsea in 1996 with `Living Rooms` and 1997 with `The Spout Garden`. In 2002 his garden at the Chelsea Flower Show celebrated 75 years of the National Garden Scheme and gained a gold medal and Best Show Garden award.
Roger created the inaugural Show garden for the new Chelsea Flower Show Sponsors M&G Investments in 2010 winning a gold medal and the People’s Choice Award.
He has served on several RHS Committees and has been an RHS Show Gardens Judge since 2001.
About the RHS
As the world’s leading gardening charity, we help to bring gardening into people’s lives and support gardeners of all levels and abilities; whether they are expert horticulturists, beginners, or children who are planting seeds for the very first time. Gardening improves the quality of life and the RHS believes everyone should have access to great horticultural experiences.
RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk
RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262
For further press information and illustrations on The M&G Garden, please contact:
Isobel Cassel or Katy Hughes at Wild Card
Tel: 020 7257 6470
E-mail: isobel.cassel@wildcard.co.uk