Post-recession Chelsea Flower Show embraces bling

By Lucy Rodgers
BBC News, Chelsea Flower Show

A £20m display of diamonds, a swimming pool and wet bar, the biggest show garden ever seen and tickets retailing on the black market for five times their original value.

On first impressions at least, the Chelsea Flower Show appears to be back to its pre-recession horticultural extravagance and displaying the much-talked-about "green shoots" of recovery.

Even the late-arriving sunny weather is contributing to the apparent mood of optimism.

And after last year's credit-crunch event - with its frugal designs, recycled exhibits and shortage of bigger sponsored gardens - many participants have relished the opportunity to splash out once again.

'Feel-good garden'

For David Domoney, whose Ace of Diamonds jewelled garden is the show's most expensive exhibit ever, it is the right time to display such opulence.

I cannot remember it better than this Show director Stephen Bennett

When asked if his entry could be seen as a "post-recession garden", his response is an enthusiastic "yes!".

"This is a feel-good garden," he explains. "When you wear jewellery - you feel good. This garden has the same effect."

Loaned by Bond Street store Leviev, the garden's real diamonds are so precious they require their own security team. However, after arriving with the "big men" on Monday, they will be replaced with fakes for the public viewings from Tuesday.

Yet, despite its tongue-in-cheek tribute to all things bling, Mr Domoney insists any gardener would be able to recreate the feel of his Chelsea entry with inexpensive materials.

"It's garden accessorisation," he says. "But some of the jewels aren't expensive - just £5 or £6."

CHELSEA: THE FACTS The show began in 1862, when it was called the Great Spring Show This year is the 88th to be held at London's Royal Hospital The site covers 11 acres About 600 exhibitors take part It takes about 800 people more than three weeks to build the show The show has 157,000 visitors Last year, 2,000 bottles of Champagne were drunk and 46,500 glasses of Pimms served Source: RHS

Luxury is also in evidence at Australian exhibitor Fleming's garden, with its swimming pool, spa, sunken lounge and wet bar; in Jonathan Denby and Philippa Pearson's victorian aviary design, which features a mosaic peacock-shaped path of gemstones; and at designer Tony Smith's grotto-style city bachelor pad, with its orchids and walls covered in fake grass - a Chelsea first.

And, it seems, this year gardening fans have also been willing to dig deeper into their pockets to get their hands on a ticket to the world-famous event.

So big has been the demand, organisers have been forced to warn people against buying last-minute black market tickets, which have been changing hands for up to £200.

'Complete turnaround'

Show director Stephen Bennett says that after a difficult 2009, when the show struggled to get sponsors to back enough show gardens, within months of last year's event ending it was clear 2010 was going to be a different story.

"We had to turn people away," he explains. "It's a complete turnaround. I cannot remember it better than this."

When you are looking after something like seeds, then you have a reason to get up - a motivation Chelsea grower Billy Balcombe, who is now free of drugs

And although the long, cold winter and the late frosts were "absolute hell" for growers, the recent hot weather has ensured Chelsea has a better-than-ever display of spring and summer plants.

"We have the early stuff here because it was cold - and all the summer stuff has leapt into bloom," he says.

However, trader Johnny Mobasher, managing director of greenhouse-makers Hartley Botanic, sounds a more cautious note.

Although he has managed to ride out the recession without losing staff or getting into debt, the company has seen a plateau in the market.

"People have understood how valuable the pound is. Everyone wants a deal or a discount - the best value they can get for their money," he says.

As well as the tributes to bling, this year also sees the flower show's biggest-ever show garden. At 590 sq metres (6,350 sq ft), Places of Change has been a mammoth task involving more than 500 people.

But the garden is not just immense in size; it also has very grand ambitions.

Led by Cornwall's Eden Project, it has been built in collaboration with the homeless, former drug addicts and prisoners, with the aim of teaching them new skills and introducing them to the positive impact gardening can have.

Gardening as saviour

And for 42-year-old Cassandra Dalton, from Hull, it has been a truly life-changing experience.

A reformed crack and heroin addict who fell into a life of prostitution and living on the streets, Ms Dalton got involved in the Chelsea project through the women's refuge where she used to live. And it has helped her leave her troubles behind.

See the Places of Change garden plans in full Enlarge Image

"There is something about that connection with the environment - the tranquil state," she says. "You have to tend and take care of the plants and you start caring about something other than yourself and your problems."

Free of drugs for two-and-a-half years and studying for an art degree, Ms Dalton believes the Chelsea project has offered hope to many troubled people like her.

"That chance has made us realise our potential - realise we are not worthless people," she says.

Billy Balcombe, 34, from Leeds, agrees. Gardening has been his unlikely saviour, too.

Through the Nurture programme at the St George's Crypt hostel in Leeds, he has been growing vegetables and other plants ready for the show. And it has helped him stay off drugs for eight months.

"It has transformed me, to be honest," he says. "Before, I could sleep all day - as I had nothing to get up for. But when you are looking after something like seeds, then you have a reason to get up - a motivation.

"It has changed me big time."