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Success at Chelsea Flower Show 2009
The UKCIP Chelsea Flower Show Stand 2009 – explored the link between climate change and growing seasons.
The growing season is now longer than at any time since records began, in 1772. During the twentieth century it has lengthened by about a month. The growing season will continue to be shifted by our changing climate. Source: UKCIP02 Scientific Report.
Using data from the Met. Office and UKCIP02 data, we were able to explore how much longer the growing season might be by the 2050’s. Our research indicated that the growing season is likely to lengthen by a further two months. In some areas in the south of the UK, the growing season may run continuously all through the year. In support of our research, we were giving away copies of Gardening in the Global Greenhouse, a report produced in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the National Trust.
The stand featured scientific information, visual displays and a “herb garden” encased in a planting area created by wire mesh gabion baskets and Welsh slate. The RHS judges awarded our stand a Silver Medal and praised its clarity of message, scientific content, overall design and interesting planting. The specially created presentation described both the processes of global warming and the temperature changes we are likely to see in the UK by the 2050s. The presentation can be seen here.
The planting featured many plants common to gardens today and looked at how their growing habits might be affected by the changing climate. Plants on display included:
- Chenopodium giganteum, Tree spinach
- Foeniculum vulgare Bronze, Bronze fennel
- Leptospermum scoparium, Tea tree
- Eruca sativa vesicaria, Wild rocket
- Ocimum basilicum Cinnamon, Cinnamon basil
- Ocimum baslicum, Basil
- Mentha spicata Tashkent, Tashkent mint
- Thymus Jekka, Jekka’s thyme
- Persicaria odorata, Vietnamese coriander
- Luma apiculata St Hilary, Myrtle
- Ugni molinae, Chilean guava
- Tropaeolum majus Empress of India, Nasturtium
- Westringia fruticosa, Westringia
- Olea europaea, Olive
- Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote, Lavender Hidcote
- Aloe vera, Aloe vera
- Salvia officinalis Tricolor, Tricolor sage
- Lavandula stoechas, French lavender
- Sempervivum a. Laggeri, Sedum
- Sempervivum, Sedum
- Sempervivum, Sedum Robin
- Solanum lycopersicum, Tomato
- Vitis vinifera‘Marechal Foch, Grape vine
- Plectranthus amboinicus, Cuban oregano or Indian borage
The growing season of all the plants featured in our garden can be seen here.
During the course of the week the UKCIP stand was visited by thousands of keen horticultural enthusiasts, eager to find out more about UKCIP’s work, pick up some information on climate change and get some gardening tips. We were also visited by the Rt Hon. Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rt Hon. Joan Ruddock MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
At the end of our week at Chelsea, the plants were sold of to eager members of the public, in the spectacular Sell-Off, which is an institution for the last day of the flower show. The hard landscaping items were dismantled and donated to the RHS, for distribution to gardening charities around London.
UKCIP worked with garden designer, Rob Edwards, and were grateful for the help of the Royal Court Theatre who designed and installed the lighting for the stand.
We would also like to thank the following people, for contributing their time, energy and ideas, and for helping make UKCIP at Chelsea 2009 a reality.
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