RHS show gardens criticised

RHS show gardens criticised

» 28th May 2010 «

Respected garden designer John Brookes has complained that the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show has become too commercial.

According to Horticulture Week, he suggested that the displays are often now geared more towards the overhead BBC television cameras than to the visiting public and that corporate sponsorship has ruined the event.

Mr Brookes, who taught celebrity grower Alan Titchmarsh and has designed more than 1,200 gardens in his time, suggested that designs are out of touch with everyday gardeners.

The expert noted how the money designers are given now allows them to create displays which the average Brit could never dream of and cannot take inspiration from.

"The public go for the experience and the day out but they want to take something home too," Horticulture Week reported him as saying.

Back in the 1970s, Mr Brookes won four gold medals at the event, with sponsorship helping from the Financial Times, the General Trading Company and the Inchbald School of Design.

Meanwhile, Hillier Nurseries won its 65th consecutive gold at this year's event, Horticulture Week reported.

Posted by Gary Carter