Chelsea Flower show build up.

As I’ve mentioned previously I won’t be able to attend this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. A great loss to me, not so great for the CFS, I’m sure. Today, however, managed to snoop around the fringes. In more ways than one. Being in the hood I ventured over to check out the Chelsea Flower show build up. Taking in all the action is like seeing ants building a nest. Everyone is super busy, vehicles of all sizes and kinds are coming and going, staff seems to know exactly where to direct them. It’s all rather fascinating. May the final countdown begin.

Jeanette outside the Chelsea Flower Show - GardenRoomStyle
Jeanette outside the Chelsea Flower Show, May 2022.

Another item on today’s agenda was to check out a garden that is part of the CFS alternative flower show, the Chelsea Fringe Festival. The Red Cross Garden is located in Southwark and rooted in the history of social housing. Together with the neighbouring cottages (they are so tiny!) it was founded and designed by Octavia Hill in 1886. This park was her flagship project and at the time it demonstrated the importance of improving housing for the poor and the need for meaningful occupations for poor workers. The social history context puts a different spin on this garden, as romantic in appearance as it may be. It was restored to its original Victorian layout in 2005 after having been covered in tarmac and municipal grass since the 1940s.

The Red Cross Garden, London - GardenRoomStyle
19th century social housing @ The Red Cross Garden, London

When I visited it happened to be lunchtime. People were sitting high and low eating and socialising. Then came 2pm and the garden emptied quickly. A great opportunity to take photographs. What a real beauty this is, utterly charming, like stepping back in time. If you look in one direction that is. Turn your head and The Shard is a stark reminder that we live in modern now.

The Red Cross Garden, London - GardenRoomStyle
19th century social housing @ The Red Cross Garden, London
View from the Red Cross Garden - GardenRoomStyle
Fab view of The Shard from the Red Cross Garden.