Show and tell – Chelsea Flower Show
As Chelsea Flower Show comes into full bloom, Hannah Stephenson previews some innovative products which have made it on to the shortlist for RHS Chelsea Garden Product of the Year
It’s not only ideas for planting your own garden that blossom when you visit garden shows – it’s ideas about the accessories, tools and trinkets you see along the way, too.
The main horticultural event of the year, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is no exception. Once again this year, on Tuesday May 20, they will be announcing their Chelsea Garden Product of the Year, showcasing the must-have new products for gardeners, covering everything from crop protection to environmentally friendly furniture.
Launched in 2011 to recognise the best new garden products on the market, the event is judged by an expert panel of garden journalists, industry buyers and business entrepreneurs, taking into account innovation, visual appeal, functionality, quality, value for money and environmental sustainability.
From a sneak peek at the 17 shortlisted products, here are some of the most practical and affordable contenders.
:: Avoid back-breaking bulb planting with Burgon & Balls’s Stainless Long Handled Bulb Planter (RRP £29.95, www.burgonandball.com), which slices through soil with ease thanks to its sharp, angled blade. It has a stainless steel head for effective rust resistance with an FSC certified ash handle for comfort and long life.
Burgon & Balls’s Stainless Long Handled Bulb Planter
:: For stylish outdoor living, Gaze Burvill craftsmen have created a superbly comfortable outdoor bar stool from sustainably forested oak, with curve and contour shaping giving unrivalled ergonomic performance, and an elegant, light, modern look. The A La Carte bar stool is priced £720, available fromwww.gazeburvill.com.
A La Carte bar stool
:: Harrod Horticultural is shortlisted for its new Stormproof Vegetable Cage, which features ingenious new ‘Frame Saver Clips’ to save frameworks from hurricanes and snow while keeping plants protected. They also allow exceptionally easy plant access. Kits from £49, www.harrodhorticultural.com. (pictured above)
:: After all the rain we had this winter, some gardeners might have wondered if they’d ever need to use a hosepipe again. But if you do, the new Pico Reel, a pint-sized version from Hozelock (RRP £29.99, www.hozelock.com), is just the job for watering small garden spaces. Compact, lightweight and easy to rewind, it can be manoeuvred with ease and comes ready to use with fittings and spray gun.
Hozelock Pico Reel
:: If sustainability is your thing, invest in some Twool Rope, ideal for tying in trees and large shrubs or for a plethora of other uses. It’s made from twool twine, a British wool alternative to imported jute twine and is outstanding in strength, stretch and breaking load. From £3.50 to £21, www.twool.co.uk.
:: The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by M&G Investments, runs from May 20-24 in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. For details go to www.rhs.org.uk
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