RHS Chelsea Flower Show – The NEN

Peter Beales Roses to unveil ‘With Courage’ rose at RHS Chelsea 2024

Spectacular new charity bloom and lifesaving-themed Great Pavilion display will commemorate the RNLI’s 200^th anniversary in style at the world-famous flower show

Leading grower Peter Beales Roses will unveil Rosa ‘With Courage’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May – an exquisite new bloom that’s poised to raise more than £40,000 to help support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The spectacular rose marks the start of a touching new collaboration between Peter Beales Roses and the RNLI and will commemorate the charity’s 200^th anniversary with a breath-taking floral showcase that will grace Chelsea’s Great Pavilion.

Peter Beales Roses – a 28 times RHS Chelsea gold medal winner – and the leading lifesaving charity are bursting with excitement to debut their new alliance at RHS Chelsea, presenting a display that not only celebrates the exquisite allure of roses but also pays homage to the extraordinary efforts of the RNLI and its valiant volunteers who, together, have saved over 144,00 lives since the charity’s formation in 1824.

Rosa ‘With Courage’ is a modern classic floribunda, bred to reward the nation’s gardeners with an abundance of beautiful coppery orange double flowers set against mid-green glossy foliage.

Free-flowering, compact and growing to 3ft tall, peachy pink tones add charm to outer petals which display yellow accents at their base, while a sweet apple scent fills the summertime breeze with delightful fragrance. Having performed spectacularly during Peter Beales’ own field trials, the ‘With Courage’ rose has taken six years to come to market to ensure it can more than meet the demands of modern gardens.

For Ian Limmer, head of the nursery and plant breeding programme at Peter Beales Roses, the launch of the high-profile rose is personal, because his grandad spent 30 years serving as a volunteer for the RNLI and saved over 160 lives.

Ian said: “In my mind, the colour of the rose reflects the orange of the RNLI’s boats while the yellow is reminiscent of the colour of the uniform. Gardeners who grow the rose will be supporting the RNLI and its flowers will be a constant reminder in the garden of the life-saving work that volunteers do.”

Ideal for growing in all parts of the garden including borders or containers, in sun or part-shade, ‘With Courage’ is a superbly healthy and highly versatile new rose, that boasts exceptional resilience to summer heat and shrugs off winter cold. What’s more it will happily withstand temperatures as low as -10C, whilst blooms last well when cut for the vase, too.

Set to be the talk of RHS Chelsea 2024, 20% of proceeds from sales of the rose will help to support the indispensable resources that the RNLI needs to survive, including crew, kit and lifeboats.

Developed in Britain, the extraordinary plant embodies the fearless commitment of RNLI volunteers who have been saving lives at sea for two decades, from the times of wooden lifeboats with oars and sails to the motor-powered, all-weather lifeboats they have now, complete with state-of-the-art technology and communications.

Celebrating a flourishing new partnership

At the heart of Chelsea’s Great Pavilion and spanning over 100 square metres, a breathtaking display will unfold, showcasing the partnership between Peter Beales Roses and the RNLI in a truly spectacular fashion.

Central to this display will be a real RNLI rib, surrounded by thousands of Peter Beales’ most stunning roses. Designed to evoke the iconic image of a lifeboat launching from its house, a sight synonymous with the RNLI, this floral masterpiece will capture the essence of the partnership’s commitment to saving lives and protecting communities and is set to be a major highlight of the show, offering countless photo opportunities for Instagram enthusiasts and plant-loving visitors.

Ian Limmer expressed his excitement: “The RNLI’s 200^th anniversary is a testament to their unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea. It is an immense honour to stand alongside one of the UK’s oldest charities as partners during this historic milestone and we feel truly blessed that, of all the exhibitors at RHS Chelsea, the RNLI chose us to partner with.

“The unveiling of the garden, with its centrepiece lifeboat alive with roses, will be a truly magical moment. As the world watches, we hope to not only captivate visitors with the beauty of our display but also to raise awareness and much-needed funds for the vital work of the RNLI. This partnership is a celebration of resilience, strength, and the enduring spirit of humanity, and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Peter Beales Roses is striving for its 29^th RHS Chelsea gold medal at this year’s show, which will run from May 21st to May 25th at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London.

The Peter Beales Roses and RNLI display can be found in the Great Pavilion. Available to order from April, a limited number of ‘With Courage’ roses will be available at Chelsea, with more plants available as bare-root from November. It’s priced at £26.95 for bare-root and £31.95 in containers.

Visit the website for more information about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and to register for tickets.

Peter er Beales Roses can be found on London Road, Attleborough, Norfolk, where you can view its two-acre rose garden, historic rose collection, garden centre, and an unrivalled programme of workshops and rose events.

See more at www.classicroses.co.uk or call 01953 454707.

Learn more about the RNLI by visiting www.rnli.org

Teapot Trust Elsewhere Garden awarded Gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Designed by Semple Begg and generously funded by Project Giving Back, the garden will be relocated to Royal Hospital for Children , Glasgow, following the show.

The Teapot Trust provides art therapy for children with chronic illnesses and the garden represents a place where a child’s imagination blooms in response to art therapy taking them ‘elsewhere’ away from their illness, helping them express and ultimately overcome their fears.

Teapot Trust Chief Executive, Sarah Randall said: “Winning gold is a fantastic acknowledgement of the brilliance of Sempe Begg’s design in conveying the freedom gifted by art therapy.

“The most important point is that we’ve never lost sight of the reason we created the Elsewhere Garden – to reach more children so that their lives can be transformed through the healing power of art therapy. For us, that’s gold.

We are so grateful to Project Giving Back’s funding that has enabled this to happen, helping us reach more children and their families who will benefit from art therapy.’

The garden was designed for Teapot Trust by Scottish-Swiss design team Semple Begg. The garden which must be at least 80% plants with designers encouraged to showcase unusual and interesting plant combinations includes a signature ‘Dolly Mixture’ stream of Candelabra primulas and a Chelsea first appearance for a pair of Picea abies ‘Inversa’.

Susan Begg and Nicola Semple (top) say: “We are thrilled to have won Gold! The Teapot Trust Elsewhere Garden tells the story of the transformative power of art therapy, creativity and imagination.

“The one thing we couldn’t have imagined is what a fantastic experience it would be. Our thanks to the whole team and to all who have supported the project. Most of all to Project Giving Back – who made it all possible.”

Following Chelsea, Teapot Trust’s winning Elsewhere Garden will be permanently relocated to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow to create an inclusive safe space to help overcome barriers to accessing healthcare. It will be used for outdoor art therapy and all patients and visitors will be welcome.

Scottish based children’s charity set to bloom at RHS Chelsea Flower

First time exhibitors, Semple Begg partner with Teapot Trust to reveal their fantasy ‘Elsewhere’ garden with signature ‘Dolly Mixture’ stream

Scottish based charity Teapot Trust and Scottish-Swiss design studio, Semple Begg prepare to reveal their Elsewhere Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Teapot Trust is a charity at the forefront of transformative mental health support that provides art therapy to children, young people and their families living with chronic conditions. The show garden marks a rare Chelsea appearance for Scottish charities and designers and is made possible by a grant from Project Giving Back who provide funding for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

One in four children and young people in the UK live with the pain and stigma of chronic health conditions that cause anxiety and depression. Almost a third of those aged under 21 who take their own lives have a long-term chronic illness. The charity’s art therapy gives children and young people a release from the burdens of chronic illness allowing them to take some control, to express and process their feelings about their diagnosis, their treatment regime, and the impact of their condition on daily life.

Sarah Randell, Chief Executive of Teapot Trust said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have a show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and delighted to finally reveal the Elsewhere Garden which up until now has existed only in our imaginations. The opportunities this will give Teapot Trust are hugely significant. It’s a platform from which we’ll share the impact of our work and draw more children and families in need to us so they can access our art therapy without barriers or cost.

“Semple Begg has done a fabulous job creating the Elsewhere Garden which perfectly illustrates the release that art therapy gives children, taking their minds to a place of escape.”

Ruth Girvan, Chair of Trustees of Teapot Trust said: “My daughter suffers daily physical and mental pain from an invisible chronic condition.

“The support we had from Teapot Trust to access art therapy helped Neve find ways to understand her condition, her treatment and has enabled her to navigate a world where she faces barriers and stigma often on a daily basis. RHS Chelsea gives Teapot Trust the opportunity to spread awareness, giving more children and young people like Neve access to transformative art therapy.”

The Elsewhere Garden is a fantasy garden representing a child’s imagination as it blossoms in response to the freedom gifted by art therapy. Through this escape into art, children find coping strategies to deal with life. For inspiration, the designers looked to Willy Wonka’s factory, to Oz and Wonderland.

Susan Begg of Semple Begg said: “The design process began with a workshop with children benefiting from Teapot Trust art therapy. We were blown away by the imaginary worlds they created in their artworks, the art therapy literally took them ‘elsewhere’.

“Normal rules didn’t apply. In art therapy, children use their imaginations and creativity to explore their fears and ultimately resolve them. From these insights grew the Elsewhere Garden – a place where a child’s imagination blooms in response to the freedom gifted by art therapy. Where the inner world of a child’s anxiety is expressed as an outer wonderland.”

Nicola Semple of Semple Begg added: “We’ve used plants to paint a picture of what ‘elsewhere’ might look like. A glimpse inside a child’s imagination where there are bright pockets reflective of joy in conquering fear such as our signature ‘Dolly Mixture’ stream, a ribbon of Candelabra primulas, and quieter, more dramatic, almost spooky areas around our Picea trees reflective of the spaces where fear can be safely explored. There’s fun, there’s fear and there’s things that can’t be entirely explained… like dancing grasses.”

Scottish composer and sound artist Michael Begg and audio visual artist Kathy Hinde have created a unique experimental soundscape to bring the garden to life. The work comprises kinetic water sculptures, dancing grass, sonified data from multiple ambient sensors and live weather feeds along with ambient field compositions mapping to different areas of the garden space; underground, over ground and the canopy.

Following Chelsea, the garden will be relocated to a permanent home at Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow which serves areas of social need, where chronic illness in children is 2.5 times more prevalent. An inclusive safe space to help overcome barriers to accessing healthcare, it will be used for outdoor art therapy and all patients and visitors will be welcome.

Teapot Trust secures a show garden at prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Teapot Trust garden explores the transformative power of art therapy for children with chronic illnesses

A Scottish based charity is celebrating after securing a garden at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Following the event next May, Teapot Trust’s Elsewhere Garden will be permanently relocated to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

The charity’s art therapy gives children and young people a release from the burdens of chronic illness allowing them to take some control, to express and process their feelings about their diagnosis, their treatment regime, and the impact of their condition on daily life.

Sarah Randell, Chief Executive of Teapot Trust said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have a show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show next year.

“The opportunities this will give Teapot Trust are hugely significant. It’s a platform from which we’ll share the impact of our work and draw more children and families in need to us so they can access our art therapy without barriers or cost.

“Semple Begg has done a fabulous job creating the Elsewhere Garden which perfectly illustrates the release that art therapy gives children, taking their minds to a place of escape.”

Ruth Girvan, Chair of Trustees of Teapot Trust said: “My daughter suffers daily physical and mental pain from an invisible chronic condition. The support we had from Teapot Trust to access art therapy helped Neve find ways to understand her condition, her treatment and has enabled her to navigate a world where she faces barriers and stigma often on a daily basis.

“Winning a show garden at RHS Chelsea gives Teapot Trust the opportunity to spread awareness, giving more children and young people like Neve access to transformative art therapy. I can’t wait to experience Teapot Trust’s Elsewhere Garden and see how Neve’s experiences have been creatively imagined.”

Susan Begg of Semple Begg said: “Teapot Trust Elsewhere Garden represents a child’s imagination as it blossoms in response to the freedom gifted by art therapy.

“Through this escape into art, children find coping strategies to deal with life.”

Nicola Semple of Semple Begg added: “For inspiration we looked to Willy Wonka’s factory, to Oz and Wonderland. Where colour is vivid and exuberant, shape and form are exaggerated. And, where the inner world of a child’s anxiety is expressed as an outer wonderland.”

An illustration of the garden created by children’s illustrator, Sandra Dieckmann can be downloaded here.

Commenting on the relocation Prof Tom Steele, Director of Estates and Facilities for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We are delighted to be receiving this unique garden space which I am sure will have an instant benefit for our patients, families and staff.

“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde manages a diverse portfolio of land across central Scotland that has the potential to improve the wellbeing of surrounding communities by enhancing the environment and creating green spaces which improve mental and physical health. Increasing evidence links access and use of green space to a multitude of healthcare benefits.

“Recognising the health and social benefits of high-quality green space leads to better outcomes, not only for patients, but for staff and the wider community and is a priority for NHSGGC. Our experience throughout the pandemic has shown us that access to high quality external space is essential for wellbeing.”