Everything You Need to Know About Chelsea Flower Show as It Goes Digital

Founded in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London in 1913, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show has only been forced to close twice in its history – during the final two years of the First World War and then throughout the Second World War, when the land was required by the War Office for an anti-aircraft site.

Now it’ll take more than a global pandemic to get in the way of British stoicism, and the 2020 show must go on. The Queen, who is patron of this lauded annual event in the British calendar, has sent a message of support for this year’s virtual show. Many royals are regular visitors, and the Duchess of Cambridge even designed her own garden for the 2019 show. And while they might not be getting the 157,000 ticket holders through the gates this year, it is still likely to be a wonderful virtual affair.

So how does it work? Cunningly. The digital experience offers all you might see IRL: practical gardening advice from world-leading designers, potting demonstrations and behind-the-scenes tours of nurseries such as Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants and Raymond Evison’s iconic clematis nursery.

Garden experts and TV personalities including Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don will be tuning in from their gardens during the event, which this year explores themes such as health and wellbeing and growing plants in indoor spaces. Always hoped to perfect the art of growing peonies and tulips? What about achilleas? You’ll be an expert by May 23.

Head to RHS Chelsea here to watch daily snippets or to BBC Two here for full coverage of the event