THE CHOOSE LOVE GARDEN
For the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023
The Choose Love Garden has been created by award-winning designer Jane Porter for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, in collaboration with her charity partner Choose Love. Choose Love support refugees and displaced people all over the world with everything from education for children to life-saving medical care. Chelsea is a huge event in the horticultural world, often referred to as the ‘Glastonbury’ of gardening. We’re so grateful to an incredible organisation called Project Giving Back who are funding the garden to enable us to make the most of this high profile event. As well as funding the creation of many gardens, this also means they all live on after Chelsea, in our case finding a new home in Croydon at Good Food Matters.
Watch the film to find out more:
About the garden
‘For many, the act of growing plants offers comfort and a sense of home.’
The Choose Love Garden is inspired by refugee migration routes across Europe, the concept of desire lines (informal paths) and the resilience of displaced people.
Linear drifts of drought tolerant species represent how plants move with people. Perennials, annuals and biennials indicate what people plant when they don’t know how long they will stay somewhere. For many, the act of growing plants offers comfort and a sense of home.
Meet the Designer: Jane Porter
“I’m a garden and planting designer. I’m relatively new to it having started training in 2016 and graduating from the London College of Garden Design in 2021 with distinction and ‘Prize for Best Project.’
At RHS Chelsea Flower Show last year, I was delighted to win a gold medal and an award for ‘Best in Category’ for my Still Garden. I absolutely love plants. I love using them to transform spaces and encourage people outside. I’m also fascinated by what people choose to grow and this has been a significant part of my research for The Choose Love Garden. Working with displaced people and those who support them has been inspiring. I hope you enjoy it. “
@plantyjane www.plantyprojects.co.uk
After Chelsea – a permanent home for the garden
After RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the garden will be relocated to Good Food Matters, a remarkable community kitchen and garden in Croydon. Their mission is to enable everyone to cook and grow nutritious, balanced meals – making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our community. The Choose Love Garden will provide a reflective and beautiful space for all those who come to Good Food Matters to share meals, build confidence and develop new skills.
Discover more at goodfoodmatters.org.uk
Please continue supporting Choose Love by donating or signing up to our email newsletter below. We also have a shop where you can buy real life items and life-changing interventions for refugees. Choose Love makes sure that what you buy goes to those who need it most. Check out the Choose Love Shop.
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