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Leeds
will show off its green fingers to the world this May when it takes
part in the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show.
Leeds City Council has once again entered a show garden in the world's most famous gardening event, which attracts over 150,000 visitors from all over the globe to see gardens designed by some of the biggest names in the horticulture industry.
Designed and created by the council’s Parks and Countryside Service, the Leeds entry is sponsored and fully funded by world-renowned manufacturers of civil engineering products, Leeds-based HESCO Bastion.
The themes of ‘The HESCO Garden’ are around climate change and flood alleviation, with the aim of raising awareness of things people can do in their own gardens to improve how the garden uses and retains rainwater, as well as how paving over gardens and tarmaccing driveways are increasing the chances of flash flooding occurring.
Modelled on a typical Yorkshire garden, it draws on a number of different techniques which can all help to address the problem of flooding. The use of permeable locally-sourced materials combined with plants that flourish in wet conditions all help to manage rainwater rather than discharging it into surface water drains.
Other features include storm water planters to collect rainwater and channel it into a central stream and two bio-retention ponds which are designed to retain water in times of flood and then release it slowly through the soil. The garden is in the shape of a shallow bowl, which helps to contain floodwater, while the stepping stone path is surrounded by a scree material which protects the soil underneath but still allows water to percolate into the ground.
This is the seventh time Leeds City Council has taken part in the Chelsea Flower Show. It has always enjoyed great success, with the six previous gardens earning bronze or silver awards.
At a time when parks services across the UK are suffering from a lack of resources and skilled staff, the Leeds entry to the Chelsea Flower Show encourages Leeds parks staff to achieve the highest horticultural standards and skills.
The HESCO Garden is sponsored and fully funded by Leeds-based firm HESCO Bastion, which is also providing the structural retention and flood defence walls for the garden. The company’s ‘Concertainer’ system has been employed to provide robust and versatile structures for civil engineering projects from the UK, to New Orleans, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr Andrew Carter commented: “Our show garden design this year has a strong Yorkshire connection with our natural cottage planting style providing a relaxing and romantic feel. The garden will have an atmosphere and character typical of the region, with many features that support storm water management techniques.”
The council are engaging local schools in this year’s competition, challenging children to design a postcard which highlights the issues of flooding and the benefits of rain gardens. One lucky winner will have 10,000 copies of their postcard printed, and receive tickets to visit Chelsea and see the HESCO Garden for themselves.
The ‘Leeds at Chelsea’ Gardens Trail
Unlike many other entries to the Chelsea Flower Show, Leeds makes sure that its award-winning gardens are recreated at prestigious city locations so that residents and visitors alike can enjoy them for many years to come. Visit www.leedsatchelsea.com/history for details.
Leeds City Council has once again entered a show garden in the world's most famous gardening event, which attracts over 150,000 visitors from all over the globe to see gardens designed by some of the biggest names in the horticulture industry.
Designed and created by the council’s Parks and Countryside Service, the Leeds entry is sponsored and fully funded by world-renowned manufacturers of civil engineering products, Leeds-based HESCO Bastion.
The themes of ‘The HESCO Garden’ are around climate change and flood alleviation, with the aim of raising awareness of things people can do in their own gardens to improve how the garden uses and retains rainwater, as well as how paving over gardens and tarmaccing driveways are increasing the chances of flash flooding occurring.
Modelled on a typical Yorkshire garden, it draws on a number of different techniques which can all help to address the problem of flooding. The use of permeable locally-sourced materials combined with plants that flourish in wet conditions all help to manage rainwater rather than discharging it into surface water drains.
Other features include storm water planters to collect rainwater and channel it into a central stream and two bio-retention ponds which are designed to retain water in times of flood and then release it slowly through the soil. The garden is in the shape of a shallow bowl, which helps to contain floodwater, while the stepping stone path is surrounded by a scree material which protects the soil underneath but still allows water to percolate into the ground.
This is the seventh time Leeds City Council has taken part in the Chelsea Flower Show. It has always enjoyed great success, with the six previous gardens earning bronze or silver awards.
At a time when parks services across the UK are suffering from a lack of resources and skilled staff, the Leeds entry to the Chelsea Flower Show encourages Leeds parks staff to achieve the highest horticultural standards and skills.
The HESCO Garden is sponsored and fully funded by Leeds-based firm HESCO Bastion, which is also providing the structural retention and flood defence walls for the garden. The company’s ‘Concertainer’ system has been employed to provide robust and versatile structures for civil engineering projects from the UK, to New Orleans, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr Andrew Carter commented: “Our show garden design this year has a strong Yorkshire connection with our natural cottage planting style providing a relaxing and romantic feel. The garden will have an atmosphere and character typical of the region, with many features that support storm water management techniques.”
The council are engaging local schools in this year’s competition, challenging children to design a postcard which highlights the issues of flooding and the benefits of rain gardens. One lucky winner will have 10,000 copies of their postcard printed, and receive tickets to visit Chelsea and see the HESCO Garden for themselves.
The ‘Leeds at Chelsea’ Gardens Trail
Unlike many other entries to the Chelsea Flower Show, Leeds makes sure that its award-winning gardens are recreated at prestigious city locations so that residents and visitors alike can enjoy them for many years to come. Visit www.leedsatchelsea.com/history for details.
3 Day Forecast
Wednesday, 22nd May
Min:
5
Max:
15
Thursday, 23rd May
Min:
6
Max:
11
Friday, 24th May
Min:
6
Max:
11
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