Flora and fauna from Chelsea

THE Chelsea Flower Show is more than an annual event, it’s an institution. Renowned the world over for its beautiful displays and immaculate horticulture exhibitions, it sees the rich and famous swapping tips with the knowledgeable general public on a level field, all trying to bleed the latest advice from the experts.
What many people fail to realise is that the Royal Horticultural Society is actually a charity run by volunteers and contributions.
From their world-class flower shows and grassroots schools campaign, to their ground-breaking green-roof research and community outreach programmes, sharing the best in gardening is at the heart of everything the RHS does.
Relying on donations and membership to support their charitable activities, they strive to enrich everyone’s life through plants and make the UK a greener, more beautiful place. They are driven by a sheer love of plants, and the belief that gardeners make the world a better place – this underpins all they do.
This year at the flower show was no exception. Formally known as the Great Spring Show, the garden show is held for five days in May. Typically, one of the highlights is the avant-garde show gardens designed by leading names with Floral Marquee as the centrepiece.
This year, the Queen was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry for her visit to this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. The royals toured a garden created for Sentebale, the charity co-founded by Prince Harry, which helps vulnerable children in the small southern African country of Lesotho.
Prince Harry, who has just returned from New Zealand, said parts of the garden were “exactly like Africa.”
The Queen said well done to the prince, who took a keen interest in the garden’s design.