RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025

A more in depth look into our favourite gardens of RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. With a close eye on the weather forecast the week before, we were very lucky to attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 on a beautiful sunny day to see all the stunning gardens on display, at their very best, in the glorious sunshine. Unfortunately we weren’t invited on press day so we chose the Friday hoping to avoid the weekend crowds. Although it was extremely busy we were much more confident in pushing our way to the front of the main avenue gardens to get a proper look and photos of the finer detail on display. We were also invited onto some of the award winning gardens which is a first for us. We’ve picked out some of our favourite gardens below.

Cha No Niwa – Japanese Tea Garden

Designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara and built by Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Laboratory. Cha No Niwa – Japanese Tea Grden cleaned up at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 by scooping three huge medals. A Gold Medal Winner, RHS Chelsea Garden of the Year aswell as the People’s Choice Best Show Garden. The theme of this garden is centred around communciation and harmony with a traditional Japanese Tea House providing the focal point to the rear corner of the garden. A very simple yet effective designs leads your wondering eyes on an epic journey around a beautiful space. Large weathered stones full of moss and natural grey tones take many different forms, partnered with round mounds of moss delicately trimmed to perfection. Acers and Japanese Maples take centre stage with a colourful combination of red, green and orange hues. A pleasant surprise are the iris which work in harmony with the lower level moss and natural rock. A combination of raked gravel around some of the stones draws your eye away from the more naturally distributed gravel pathways, inviting you along the natural paths and to wonder through. A water feature hugs the edge of the Tea House with a stream flowing down with slate bridges and paths seemlessly floating over. Irregulargrey setts frame larger worn slabs creating subtle paving areas allowing you to pause and really take in this absolutely stunning Japanese Garden Design and a worthy gold medal winner. A full plant list can be found here.

Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Design

Designed by Manoj Malde and built by JJH Landscapes

Congratulations to Manoj Malde for winning a Silver Gilt Medal. Celebrating the advances in treatment and technology to combat HIV aswell as highlighting the stigma that sadly still surrounds and persists. With so many clever aspects contained within this garden, the focus in on the hexagonal form reflecting the molecular structure of HIV medication. Paving used follows this form combining with the floating bridge across the stream. The main vertical water feature forms the backdrop which runs through the enitre design. Clever hexagonal panelling on the water feature carefully directs the water down by maintaining a gentle and soothing sound. Larger structures create informal zones to sit and relax with a beautiful Purbeck Stone boulder taking centre stage and the sawn polished top creates a beautiful natural table top. Another boulder situated towards the front of the garden with a carved out water bowl to one edge of a stunning natural seat. This is a very simple way to add biodiversity to your own garden.

Garden of the Future

Designed by Butler & Parker and built by Acacia Gardens featuring a clever structure constructed using rammed earth. No concrete was used on the main structure, only a very small amount in the footings. This contributes to the sustainable design and really makes the viewer think about how they can achieve this approach themselves. Clever detailing is used throughout with crops being grown and blending seamlessly with a wide palette of planting. Water is harvested in a concealed container with a clever composting toilet boosting the production in the kitchen garden area. A small test can be seen showing the difference in growth of veg using repurposed compost.

Secret Base – The Another Green Room Garden

Congratulation to Jun Ishihara for winning a Silver Gilt Medal with Secret Base – The Another Green Room Garden in the container garden category. A traditional Japanese Style Garden with dark slate and stone tones and lush green and red maples throughout. Subtle, integrated seating adds another material in timber with adjoining tiered waterfalls running alongside creating a soothing and calming environment to switch off and relax in.

Room to Breathe Hospital Garden for the TSA

Congratulations to Jen Donnelly and Catherine Gibbon for winning a deserved Gold Medal for the Room to Breathe Hospital Garden for the TSA Tuberous Sclerosis Association. A nice contrast between corten steel planters and darker anthracite grey water container. The warm green tones of the ferns are further highlighted by this soft palette. The gentle trickle of the triple spout water feature adds movement and melody, turning the container garden into a living, breathing retreat.

All images are owned and copyrighted by Welsh Slate Water Features.