“We’ve been awarded Gold!”, tweeted our BrandAlley Garden designer, Paul Hervey-Brookes early this morning. It’s such exciting news and we’re absolutely thrilled to bits! To put it into perspective, winning an RHS gold medal at Chelsea is the horticultural equivalent of scooping an Oscar and the biggest honour a gardener can receive. That’s because the Chelsea Flower Show is the most prestigious flower show in the world.
Even more special, we’ve got our much-coveted gold in Chelsea’s centenary year and it’s a real privilege to be part of this historic event.
So (drum roll, please), here is The BrandAlley Garden finally revealed in all its finery, Just look how beautiful it is!
And here’s our shiny, gold medal! (I do love saying that.)
At Judging Day yesterday, twelve judges came and all scrutinised our Garden for twenty minutes. Then, they went away and came back again for another fifteen minutes.
After that, we just had to wait until the results were announced this morning. The anticipation was excruciating. But now we’ve got a thumbs-up from the judges, it’s the best feeling in the world!
Ever since the gates opened this morning, we’ve had loads of lovely comments from the public about our Garden. We had loads more yesterday too, as the BrandAlley team rubbed shoulders with royalty, press, gardening glitterati and celebs who were all getting a sneak preview of The BrandAlley Garden. Including Kirstie Allsopp and Anneka Rice.
Did you catch us on the BBC at lunchtime today? At about ten minutes from the end, they briefly showed our garden when they were talking about the gold medal winners in the Fresh Garden category. Presenter, Toby Buckland said this about it. “The BrandAlley Garden was inspired by city living. The result – a stylish room finished off with a gold stamp of approval.”
And here’s what Paul Hervey-Brookes had to say about winning the award:
“It is an absolutely fabulous achievement for us to have been awarded Gold. It has been a fantastic opportunity to work with BrandAlley this year, and create a concept which was so meaningful; a representation of the two interdependent sides of life, the public and the private.”
Melissa Littler, BrandAlley Marketing and PR Director added:
“The Chelsea Flower Show is an incredibly prestigious event and we feel its ethos really complements our members’ lifestyles; the garden was created to conceptualise these lifestyles and to be inspirational, yet achievable, where space is precious.”
Vote for The BrandAlley Garden in the RHS People’s Choice Awards
And there’s more. The popular RHS People’s Choice competition gives you a chance to vote for your favourite gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. It’s the only award at the show that is decided by public vote – so make sure you have your say! There are two categories, one for Show Gardens and one for small gardens, which includes Fresh and Artisan gardens. So, if you love The BrandAlley Garden, vote for us now on the RHS website.
Win free floral cocktails and canapés for two in the pop-up, Edible Garden at Belgraves, a Thompson Hotel
To celebrate our gold-medal BrandAlley Garden, we’ve booked a table for two lucky winners on Saturday 25th May at the luxurious Belgraves, a Thompson Hotel in London SW1. Head mixologist, Salvatore Maggio, will be creating cocktails with botanical spirits and petals plucked from a living wall of edible flowers at an interactive cocktail station. So, what are you waiting for? Enter our competition now. Good luck!
Jo x
Next time: More from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Picture credits: All photos except the images of celebrities, the image of the RHS gold medal and the floral cocktails are: Copyright ©2103 Andrew Parsons/i-Images; Floral cocktail © Belgraves, a Thompson Hotel via standard.co.uk.
This bright, fast growing geum has rich, orange flowers from June to September, carried in clusters on tall upright stems. Keep in full sun or partial shade in moist soil.
The Iris of Edward was the first pink flower of the Iris family. Parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. Plant in neutral soil; watering regularly without flooding.
A strong growing plant with white flowers on upright stems. These appear in late spring/early summer in clusters of 5 -15cm. Grow in fertile, moist soil. Likes full sun or partial shade.
A herbaceous perennial which will grow in semi-shade and full sun. Covered in white flowers from early May until late summer.
An evergreen perennial with rounded, shiny leaves which mature from purple tones in spring, to a deep mahogany red in summer. Plant in fertile, moist, but well-drained, neutral soil in sun or partial shade.
A species of fern native to eastern Asia from China and Japan, south to the Philippines. It grows in light woodland shade on low mountains or hills. It will grow in full sun if given plenty of moisture.
A hardy, evergreen plant which can grow to 50cm tall. Can be grown in full sun or part shade
Hornbeam is a native small tree which can be clipped into hedges and topiary shaped, with an often rich autumn colour.
Native to Korea and Japan and grown as an ornamental tree which will reach 20+m maturity. Rich in Autumn colours best on well drained soils
A monotypic genus from new Zealand having bronze and coppery leaves, which thrives in sun or part-shade.
A large, feathery species of fern native throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere. Often abundant in damp, shady woodland environments. As with most ferns, grow away from direct sunlight.
A North American plant suited to shade. It has green flowers in early summer that become pink with age and are faintly scented. Bright midday sun can cause damage and this species may be sensitive to fungicides
These evergreen or deciduous shrubs have small yellow or orange flowers, followed by small berries. Grow in full sun or part shade in well-drained soil.
An evergreen shrub (or tree) with simple, leathery leaves and small, often fragrant, five-petalled flowers. Best kept outdoors in moist but well-drained soil, in full sun.
A small evergreen tree native to New Zealand, and known by the Māori as kohuhu. Easy to grow in fertile, soil but may need protection in cooler climates from cold winds.
A species of flowering plant native to Western and Southern Europe, Northwest Africa, and Southwest Asia. Grows best in partial shade; can be scorched by sun and strong winds.
An upright perennial with striking white and deep-purple flowers in spring and summer. Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shades
A herbaceous plant with notable purple to black stems, bearing light green leaves and fluffy, lavender-pink flowers in summer. Plant in moist, humus-rich soil in partial shade.
In summer this plant has funnel-shaped, almost black flowers on long stems and grey-green leaves. It is harmful when eaten. Grow in full sun and well drained soil.
Chelsea Fringe 
Go bluebell spotting
