BEES & TEAMWORK AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
We took the bees and the buzz to the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show!
A special moment in the annual calendar for us, this years' Chelsea has been one to remember. Reflecting now, just a few days after the show has been dismantled, the glorious, sensory, inspiring gardens are just a memory, a joyful one at that.
Like most successes, this was a team effort, a proper collaboration of goodness and good people with the Bees for Development charity.
A friendly familiar collective, we'd all worked together in some shape or form over the years but not on this scale. This would be an RHS judged garden, it was both exciting and daunting!
We know the results now of course, and there were two joyous moments to celebrate!!
1. The Bees for Development Balcony Garden was awarded an RHS Silver-Gilt Medal - a huge achievement for a first venture at this prestigious of shows.
2. Winning the People's Choice Award - across both the Balcony and Container categories - possibly the award that meant most to us.
For this, we must highlight the talented, hard-working design team at The Humble Bee Gardeners - Award winning plant nursery and horticulturists based in Shropshire. In quite spectacular style, they had won three Gold Medals at RHS Malvern in the weeks prior to Chelsea.
Visitors to the vibrant design, stepped into a world of colour, nature and sustainability. Inspired by Africa and the vital connection between bees, people and biodiversity, the urban retreat transformed the small space into a pollinator haven. The Bees for Development Balcony Garden was literally buzzing. The skilled team at E.H. Thorne having crafted the unique woodwork.
We knew we wanted to incorporate our signature, hand-painted hive box planters and upcycled honey barrels into the design - and for this aspect, we knew who to turn to, artist and friend of LHC, @byjulieannepugh. Her colourful, energetic take on the African theme translated perfectly.
"Working with so many patterns across the beehives felt poignant as much of what the bees do is based on them, from identifying flowers to way finding - just like me, they can't get enough!"
The Balcony Garden will live on with the charity and acts as a permanent reminder that no matter how small the space, we can all 'Make Life Better with Bees'.