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UK environmental horticulture blooms at Chelsea, as the APL celebrates 30 years

19 May 2025

As the gates open for the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show press day, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), representing the breadth of the UK's gardening industry, including the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), highlights the indispensable role its members play in creating the show's world-class displays. From the intricate craftsmanship of award-winning show gardens and prominent exhibits to the cultivation of exquisite plants and the supply of essential materials, this year sees around 40 HTA and APL members form the backbone of Chelsea, embodying the skill, innovation, and vital national contribution of the UK's horticulture and landscape sector.

This year is particularly significant as the APL marks its 30th anniversary, a milestone symbolising three decades of championing professional standards and excellence in landscaping across the UK.

Phil Tremayne, APL General Manager, said:

"Celebrating our 30th anniversary, surrounded by the exceptional work of our members here at Chelsea, is a real highlight. The APL members involved are setting the standard for British landscaping. Their skill and innovation are clear to see, creating beautiful spaces that benefit people and places across the country. Chelsea is a vital platform, showing what professional landscaping achieves and the positive future it contributes to."

Chelsea 2025 sees widespread involvement from HTA and APL members across the showground. Over 10 gardens and key exhibits at Chelsea are being built or designed by APL member companies from across the UK, including 8 gardens (7 show gardens and one container garden) and 3 key exhibits. This includes APL members taking a leading role as principal contractors for significant installations such as the 'RHS x UBS Moments of Reflection' exhibit – creating a publicly accessible Monument within the Great Pavilion – demonstrating the highest levels of landscape professionalism. A couple of APL members are also making their first-ever lead builds at Chelsea this year – JJH Landscapes 'Tackle HIV: Challenging Stigma Garden' and Fenton Gardens Ltd, designing and building a Container Garden ‘C6’.

HTA members play a vital role throughout the Chelsea supply chain by providing a diverse range of plants, trees, seeds, bulbs, tools, and various sundries that contribute to the gardens, exhibits, and trade stands. Their expertise in cultivation and supply is essential to the overall success of the show.

Both HTA and APL members have a presence with trade stands and exhibits, all of which are expertly designed and landscaped. Notable among these is David Austin Roses in the Great Pavilion, featuring the largest exhibit at 256 square metres. There are also several newcomers at Chelsea, with HTA members Frank P. Matthews, Glendoick Gardens, and Kernock Park Plants showcasing their work for the first time this year.

Additionally, HTA members play a significant role in the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year competition, supplying eight of the finalist plants and exhibiting two of them.

A summary list of HTA and APL members involved can be found in the Notes to Editors section below.

While Chelsea is a celebration of horticultural artistry, the work on show highlights the significant national impact of the horticulture and landscape sector:

  • Growing the economy: Contributing £38 billion to the UK economy, supporting 722,000 jobs nationwide – a wide range of skilled roles from designers and landscapers to growers and retailers.
  • Enhancing the environment: Creating and maintaining green infrastructure is essential for biodiversity, air quality, flood mitigation, and climate change resilience. This sector offers nature-based solutions essential for achieving the UK's environmental goals.
  • Fostering communities: Designing and building public and private spaces that promote social interaction, enhance urban environments, and support charitable initiatives, as showcased in the show gardens.
  • Supporting health and wellbeing: Providing access to nature and opportunities for gardening, which are proven to significantly improve mental and physical health and quality of life for millions.

The HTA and APL encourage visitors and the media to connect with their members at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 to discover the expertise that shapes Britain's landscapes.

A selection of HTA and APL members involved in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 includes:

APL Members Building/Designing Gardens & Exhibits:

  • Hardwood Landscapes (Based in Cranleigh, Surrey): Principal contractor for the 'RHS x UBS Moments of Reflection' exhibit in the Great Pavilion, also working with APL members Radial Landscapes, Cobham Court Landscapes, and Gecko Stonework.
  • Gadd Brothers Trees & Landscapes (Based in Bury St. Edmunds): Building the 'Boodles Raindance Garden', supported by Lawn and Border Landscapes (Based in Downpatrick, County Down).
  • Big Fish Landscapes (Based in Hereford): Building the ‘Children with Cancer UK, a place to be...’ garden.
  • Acacia Gardens (Based in North London): Building the ‘Garden of the Future’.
  • Landform Consultants (Based in Greater London/Chobham): Building multiple gardens, including the ‘Killick and Co Save for a Rainy Day Garden’ and ‘The Hospitalfield Arts Garden’. (Dr Catherine McDonald from Landform also designed the ‘Boodles Raindance Garden’).
  • JJH Landscapes (Based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire): Creating their first-ever lead build at Chelsea with the 'Tackle HIV: Challenging Stigma Garden' (designed by Manoj Malde).
  • Tisserand Landscapes (Based in Bishop’s Stortford): Supporting JJH Landscapes.
  • Ryan Alexander Associates (Based near Reading): Building ‘The Glasshouse Garden’.
  • Fenton Gardens Ltd (Based in Gravesend, Kent): Designing and building their first-ever Chelsea garden, a Container Garden (C6).
  • Frogheath Landscapes (Based in East Sussex): Building the ‘Seawilding’ and ‘The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden’ exhibits.

HTA & APL Members with Trade Stands/Exhibits

  • Barcham Trees (Based in Soham/Ely)
  • Burgon & Ball (Based in Sheffield)
  • Burncoose Nurseries (Based in Redruth, Cornwall)
  • Crocus (Based in Surrey): Grower and supplier for numerous gardens and trade stands
  • David Austin Roses (Based in Albrighton, Shropshire)
  • Farplants (Based in Arundel, West Sussex) – supplying herbs in the Green Stem - RHS Peat Free Garden
  • Fothergill's Seeds (Based in Newmarket, Suffolk)
  • Frank P Matthews (Based in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire)
  • Garden House Design (Based in West Sussex): Heavily involved in 3 large trade stands, one on the main avenue.
  • Gartenart Swimming Ponds (Based in North London): Exhibiting natural swimming ponds.
  • Glendoick Gardens Ltd (Based in Perth, Scotland)
  • Hardwood Landscapes (Based in Cranleigh, Surrey): The David Harbour Sculptures stand on Main Avenue.
  • Hortus Loci (Based in Hook, Hampshire)  - supplying 'RHS x UBS Moments of Reflection' exhibit in the Great Pavilion as well as multiple gardens and displays.
  • Hozelock (Based in Sutton Coldfield)
  • Kernock Park Plants (Based in Saltash, Cornwall)
  • Morgan Oates (Brentford, London) and Holland Green (Thame, Oxfordshire), building the Blue Forest, tree house company, stand on Main Avenue
  • Provender Nurseries (Based in Swanley, Kent) – supplying APHA trade stand
  • Taylor's Bulbs (Based in Spalding, Lincolnshire)
  • The Guernsey Clematis Nursery (Based in Vale, Guernsey)

HTA & APL Members Involved in Plant of the Year Finalists (Suppliers/Exhibitors):

  • Fairweather’s Nursery (Hampshire)
  • The Guernsey Clematis Nursery (Guernsey)
  • Hillier Nurseries (Hampshire)
  • Frank P Matthews Trees (Worcestershire)
  • Blue Diamond Garden Centres (Guernsey)
  • Bransford Webbs Plant Company (Worcester)
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