BLOG: My Inspiring Day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
June 2024
Lauren is a New to Nature trainee working at Youth Environmental Service as a Programme Delivery Trainee.
Back in May, I had the privilege of attending the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show with Groundwork UK. As a trainee on their New to Nature programme, I was thrilled to be invited along with three other trainees to the Young Persons’ Breakfast hosted by RHS and The Newt Somerset. This event brings together young people from across the horticulture sector to explore the flower show, and to connect and celebrate our shared passion.
This was my very first visit to the Chelsea Flower Show, and it exceeded all my expectations. We started the day with a fantastic tour of four show gardens, including those created by WaterAid, Sue Ryder and the National Garden Scheme. Each garden was brilliantly designed, but my absolute favourite was the WaterAid garden which celebrated and harnessed the power of water.
Hearing from the talented designers and installers of these gardens was truly inspiring. Understanding their vision, the thoughtful selection of plants, the garden’s purpose, and its future beyond the flower show made the experience feel very special.
After the tours, we had the opportunity to listen to speeches from prominent RHS figures. Having just come to the end of my New to Nature placement, their words left me feeling inspired and optimistic about my future in the environmental sector.
The remainder of the day was ours to explore the show further. A particularly exciting moment for me was discovering the Grenada exhibit. With my Grandma being from Grenada, it was fantastic to see the vibrant, colourful plants native to the island.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have attended the Chelsea Flower Show. A massive thank you to RHS and Groundwork for making this day possible.
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About New to Nature
New to Nature will offer new, full-time, temporary work placements in nature and landscape organisations across the UK, aiming to increase diversity and enrich the environmental sector.
Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the King’s Coronation, the programme will run until September 2024 and will provide paid work placements for at least 95 people, targeting young people from diverse backgrounds to undertake a range of environmental roles.
New to Nature is delivered through a partnership of Groundwork, The Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, and Mission Diverse. We are working closely with the Youth Environmental Service to ensure the programme acts as a stepping stone for a longer-term journey of change in the sector: www.groundwork.org.uk/projects/new-to-nature/
