The RHS Garden for Friendship, debuting at this year's Chelsea Flower Show and designed by Jo Thompson in collaboration with Zoe Ball, will celebrate how you can make friends through gardening, after results from a survey revealed that 52% of people in Britain have experienced loneliness.
The Feature Garden, which will have a prominent display at RHS Chelsea in May (19th-23rd), aims to encourage how community gardening, sharing plants with neighbours, discussing top tips and spending time in the garden socially, can all help to combat Brits feeling alone.
The garden
The RHS Garden for Friendship (illustrated above) will be a non-judged feature at Chelsea and will reflect an urban street, showing how people can green up their front gardens, balconies, window boxes and community spaces.
Roses, poppies, edible herbs and delicious vegetables will feature, as well as trees in the form of multi-stemmed Gleditsia triacanthosf. inermis 'Sunburst' (honey locust) and the lime Tilia × euchlora.
At the garden visitors will get a great source of ideas to create more colourful, happier places that bring people together and are better for the environment.
'This garden will be brimming with accessible ideas that don’t need to cost much, like window boxes with plants that can be grown from seed, but collectively can make a big positive difference to where we live,' says Jo Thompson, who adds that TV and radio presenter and passionate gardener Zoe has been 'very hands on' in the project.
'It’s brilliant having Zoe involved, she’s such an enthusiastic gardener and we’re both excited about bringing this garden to life.'
The garden marks the RHS' third year collaborating with the NHS at the Chelsea Flower Show to promote gardening for good mental health. And once again, a national competition will see the Garden for Friendship from RHS Chelsea redesigned and created at an NHS Mental Health Trust.
Loneliness in the UK
The study of 2,000 adults, commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society, found that while 52% of Brits have experienced feeling alone, the younger generations suffer most, with 68% of 18-24 year olds having felt lonely compared to 41% of over 55s.
As a result of this epidemic, half have attempted to tackle their loneliness with almost a third joining a social group such as a gardening club, four in 10 have taken up a new hobby on their own, and 39% said they garden or grow plants when they feel lonely.
'It’s worrying to see that half of all adults suffer from loneliness and it really does affect all ages. Loneliness is a key issue that can impact mental health and that’s why personal wellbeing is a key theme of the RHS Garden for Friendship,' says Sue Biggs, RHS Director General. 'It’s clear from the study that the younger generation are affected by the digital age which has resulted in lack of face to face communication, while older demographics are suffering in silence living alone.
'We passionately believe gardening is good for mental health and want to encourage people to join local social gardening groups, garden with neighbours or volunteer in gardens in order to boost their wellbeing and confidence.'
The research also found that during the average week adults experience feelings of loneliness three times, but a tenth feel lonely every day, and 64% believe that even with lots of friends it’s possible to still feel alone.
More than half of adults find it worse today than five years ago, and six in 10 worry about feeling even more secluded as they get older, due to friends or family passing away or moving cities, and 44% fear living on their own.
The average age when Brits have felt most alone was revealed as 37, although a fifth felt they suffered most in their twenties.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020 returns from 19 - 23rd May 2020.
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19 best gardening gifts under £35
These easy-to-use seedboms biodegrade into the environment leaving only plants behind. The ultimate stocking filler, each pack contains a mixture of native wildflower seeds.
Gloves are a must-have for gardeners. With a sweet bird print and ultra-soft fell palms, this Burgon & Ball style is perfect for all. But they're selling out quick, so be fast if you want them for a loved one.
Make a friend or family member smile with this lovely personalised state plant marker. Charming and rustic, it's sure to spruce up any vegetable patch.
Choose two lines of personalised text when you buy a loved one this lovely tin for all of their essential gardening tools – this is a gift that's guaranteed to be used regularly.
Keep tools and accessories neatly stored away with this stylish gardening bag. Designed by Sophie Conran, it's water resistant, wipe clean and has practical restraining straps to keep your items safe.
Gardening is often tough on the hands, so it's important for regular gardeners to look after their skin. Trust us, this hand cream will go down a treat...
This stylish black metal watering can from H&M Home is a must-have for avid gardeners – or even just for those who love their houseplants.
With an extra long leg, ankle support and a tog rating of 2.3 to keep your feet warm and toasty while gardening, these are the perfect accompaniment to welly boots, for gardening fans who still spend plenty of time outdoors in the winter.
If your loved one can always be found in the garden, this personalised slate hanging sign can be hung in said garden, or in the shed or greenhouse.
Gardening lovers are sure to appreciate a practical gardening tool, so why not make them a little more special for them to use by personalising them? In this set, which can accommodate your own inscription, they'll get a weeder, trowel and a cultivator.
For newbie gardeners or those who need a refresh of their knowledge, make sure they have this book to hand – which shares everything from how deep to plant certain bulbs, to when to prune leaves.
This practical canvas kneeler is a must-have for every gardening expert, especially those who struggle with knee pain. Its long handle makes it incredibly practical to hang in a shed or garage after use.
Get personal with your gift ideas and give something printed with your own message. These ceramic planters make excellent presents.
Every gardener needs a practical hand fork. Tidy up flower beds and borders with this three-pronged hand tool from Garden Trading.
Ensure that seeds are stored safely with this storage box. Available in three colours – black, yellow and light grey – each box contains twelve blank card dividers, ideal for keeping track of a year's worth of seeds.
Bring a smile to your friend's face with this peace lily in a gorgeous pot. With dark green foliage and long-lasting white flowers, it's a beautiful way to brighten any room.
Learning new skills is always exciting. This experience gift will give guests the chance to professionally learn how to grow their own chillis at home, and it's currently got a great discount.
This enamel tin is an incredibly stylish way to store bird feed. We're certain it will make a well-received gift.
Okay, so technically this is a little bit over £35 (only a little) but this gift box will give your gardening friends a step in the right direction to help care for any small garden birds.
