Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Project type
Show Garden
Location
RHS Chelsea, London
Status
May 2025
Inspired by the raw beauty of nature’s most challenging environments, our Chelsea Flower Show garden explores resilience, renewal, and transformation. In extreme conditions, life finds a way, just as young people, with the right support, can overcome challenges and thrive.
This is reflected in rugged basalt pathways, layered rock formations, and a planting scheme that mimics pioneer species colonising barren ground. Screen-printed glass panels depict seed dispersal, reinforcing renewal and potential. The challenge was balancing the wild essence of these landscapes with a welcoming, contemplative space.
At the heart of the garden is the symbolism of seeds - tiny vessels of possibility. Many plants, like the Black Pine and Icelandic Poppy, thrive in extreme conditions, mirroring the resilience of young people supported by The King’s Trust.
Seeds represent transformation - they hold within them the potential for something much greater. This idea is woven throughout the garden, from the delicate dispersal imagery on the glass panels to the shape of the carved furniture to the plants themselves, many of which have adapted to germinate quickly or regenerate after extreme conditions.
It was an honour to meet and show his Majesty The King our garden during the Royal Visit.
Many thanks to our sponsors Project Giving Back & Elemis for making this garden possible
The garden was awarded a Gold Medal
Garden photography by Clive Nichols
Royal visit photography by Ollie Dixon
"We are thrilled that Joe Perkins’ beautiful and inspiring garden has been recognised with a gold medal. It so eloquently captures the spirit of our work, and we hope it will shine a light on the potential found in young people, as well as providing a place of solace and enjoyment in its final location, Uxbridge College.
Currently there are almost one million young people out of work or training in the UK, which makes our support to build their skills and confidence for the future more important than ever."
- Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive of The King’s Trust