Our thinking

Blooming sustainable

31 May, 2024

At last week’s Chelsea Flower Show, there was a spotlight on sustainability, with one the themes being ‘the greenest Chelsea ever’. And, amidst the spectacular blooms in the Great Pavilion and sustainable show gardens on Main Avenue, a quiet war for the RHS Chelsea Sustainable Garden Product of the Year raged on. 

This year’s winner was the POTR Pot, an ingenious origami-style, flat-pack planter made from recycled plastic. The POTR pot, with its innovative self-watering mechanism, can be mailed directly through your letterbox, making plant care effortless and eco-friendly. 

Next up, Twool’s Sustainable Garden Net impressed with its biodegradable, durable netting made from British wool. Offering an alternative to plastic nets used to grow climbing plants like sweatpeas and beans, it drew praise for its innovative use of renewable resources. 

Also in the running was Lindum’s Species Rich Turf, which turns your boring and wildlife-free lawn into a species rich haven that’ll have insects making a beeline for your garden; the Sneeboer Handspade, produced using renewable energy in the Netherlands, is designed to make gardening more accessible for those that find a regular spade too large and heavy; and last but not least, Hannah Marchant’s Plantable Calendar that puts a floral spin on planning, with pages that can be planted in your garden or a pot when the month comes to an end. 

Each finalist highlighted the horticultural industry’s growing commitment to sustainability and ecological responsibility. Get your hands on these products to have your most sustainable summer of gardening yet! 

By Lucy Bell