From a tough shortlist that included Lindum Wildflower Turf, Sneeboer’s sustainably produced handspade, Hannah Marchant’s Plantable Calendar, and Twool’s garden twine, POTR was the victor in the Chelsea Flower Show 2024’s Sustainable Product of the Year competition.
POTR‘s eye-catching range of origami, self-watering planters are made entirely from recycled material and are shipped flatpack – taking up less space in transport thus reducing their carbon footprint, and fitting conveniently through your letterbox. The cord around the top isn’t just decorative, but acts as a wicking system so plants can self-regulate their water intake. The RHS judges praised its innovation and the engineering that takes the “guesswork out of plant care”.
You’d need quite a few origami pots to fill Hartley Botanic‘s Victorian Manor Glasshouse. The greenhouse manufacturer has been exhibiting at Chelsea for 70 years, but this was the largest greenhouse they’ve built at the show yet, at 8.146m long and 4.128m wide. At the show, the impressive glasshouse – in Hartley’s brand new matt black livery – showcased the Victorian era’s ‘new’ plants, with enough room to partition a separate dining area, reflecting the way we’re increasingly using glasshouses as somewhere to entertain and relax, as well as garden.
Another long-standing greenhouse exhibitor, Alitex teamed up with The Pig Hotels to put together an exhibit of their glasshouses and homegrown produce. A bespoke glasshouse in the company’s popular wood sage colour highlighted some of the options available should you need a glasshouse that isn’t covered by Alitex’s ‘off the peg’ range: this one had an extended double lobby to increase the internal space, built-in cold frames on the outside, and a partitioned inner area that could be used for sowing and growing. It was also equipped with Alitex’s wooden blinds, the most attractive way to make sure a greenhouse is sufficiently shaded in summer.
Hooked up to the other greenhouse on the exhibit – the 4m x 2.6m National Trust Mottisfont model – was Alitex’s brand new water butt in galvanised steel, designed in conjunction with Arthur Jack with a solid lid to stop leaves getting in.
Just along Main Avenue, David Harber‘s Chelsea exhibit celebrated 30 years of the sculptor’s business. Some of his most recognisable pieces were on display, but the brand new armillary sphere, Armillary 30 was given pride of place at the front. Designed to mark the 30th anniversary, it’s a modern take on the iconic design – an interactive and innovative timepiece that form an impressive focal point in any garden.
Also celebrating their 30th year were Henchman, who brought ‘live topiary’ to the show by inviting Andy the Hedge Barber to put the company’s newly redesigned fully adjustable tripod ladders through their paces while trimming topiary on their exhibit.
Sophie Allport is another Chelsea regular, producing a much-anticipated Chelsea design to celebrate each year’s show. This year it features an abundance of flowers alongside cheerful Chelsea Pensioners in their scarlet uniforms, the Great Pavilion, cute hedgehogs and a beehive! The collection includes a fine bone china mug, a cotton tea towel, illustrated hand-signed print and a serving tray.
Glass designer Emma Britton, who creates beautiful glassware and glass splashbacks, launched a new splashback design at the show this year. Potager Garden takes inspiration from the prettiest kitchen gardens, mixing vegetables and flowers to create a splashback that will become the centrepiece of the kitchen.
Shepherd’s hut makers Plankbridge harked back to times gone by launching their very stylish outdoor privy! The Dorset-based master hut makers say it’s a “nostalgic throwback to the world of the Victorian gardener” but because it can be wheeled into position and connected to the mains in the garden, it could be a very handy addition for those with larger outdoor spaces. It can be painted in any of the heritage shades from Plankbridge’s colour chart, and can even be supplied with solar lighting and a compost loo for off-grid locations. The company also introduced its Sauna Snug, which marries classic shepherd’s hut design with the Scandinavian sauna.
Scottish garden furniture maker Angus Ross chose Chelsea to introduce two new additions to the range: the Clinker Bench and the Dalerb Garden Lounge Chair. The company only use Scottish oak for their furniture, usually sourced in Perthshire and in the Clinker Bench’s case, from an oak on the Glen Lyon estate that was blown down in Storm Arwen. It’s constructed like a wooden clinker-built boat, with steambent backslats held in place by copper rivets.
The Dalerb Garden Lounge Chair is a wider and lower version of the chair that was just pipped to first place in Chelsea’s Sustainable Product of the Year competition last year.
Seedball launched a new collaboration with the Royal Entomological Society – little matchbox-sized packets of wildflower seed balls – and Lawn Flower Grab Bags: 100 seed balls to create larger wildflower meadow areas, with a donation to The Wildlife Trusts for every bag sold.