At 200 square metres, Hartley Botanic?s trade stand at this year?s RHS Chelsea Flower Show will be one of the largest and most ambitious in its category. The stand, which has been designed by Longview Design, will be built by The Outdoor Room with plants sourced by Burford Garden Company, will feature five handmade greenhouses and glasshouses with show garden worthy planting to demonstrate the huge variety of ways Hartley Botanic greenhouses can be enjoyed by the modern gardener. From a bronze Opus glasshouse filled entirely with rare orchids to a white Grange glasshouse dedicated to traditional fruit and vegetable growing, the plant themes of each greenhouse will be as individual as its design, brought together to execute a truly show-stopping stand for current and future Hartley Botanic customers alike.
Hartley Botanic?s Victorian Grand Lodge will be the largest glasshouse featured on the stand and will be dressed with architectural and impressive looking tropical and subtropical species ? a nod to Victorian plant collectors. Airplants, palms, bananas and the exotic Gloriosa vine will compliment the lodge?s beautiful proportions and Stephanotis will provide a wonderful scent. The Opus glasshouse, featured in last year?s award-winning show garden, will ?exhibit? an incredible collection of orchids, celebrating them like individual works of art. Orchids on show will include the slipper orchid Paphiopedilum, the South American Zygopetalum and Masdevallia species. Two other buildings, the Grange greenhouse and Westminster glasshouse, will demonstrate the more traditional art of growing fresh fruit and vegetables and will be filled with brightly coloured peppers, aubergines and chillies as well as fresh herbs. For those passionate about ?grow your own,? and perhaps spurred-on by recent supermarket food shortages, the stand will also feature Hartley Botanic?s Grow & Store greenhouse.
The stand itself will feature exotic and hardy plants from around the world which will add beautiful texture as well as help lead visitors around the exhibit. Key themes for both the external plantings and those within the greenhouses and glasshouses is a love and passion for plants and visitors? sensory experience -? especially as they visit each unique greenhouse. The stand is in a prominent location next to the Great Pavilion and show gardens on Main Avenue which, along with the stand?s ambitious plant displays, will help to attract visitors.
Longview Design and The Outdoor Room were chosen by Hartley Botanic to design and build the stand because of their RHS Chelsea credentials, having created award-winning show gardens for the last 10 years and being deemed worthy to create three gardens at the show this year. The exhibit represents the first trade stand for the Sussex-based design team whose USP is to create designs which are entirely client focussed, staying as closely as possible to each client?s unique style and objectives. The beautifully designed and unusual plantings set to grace the stand have all been sourced and supplied by Cotswolds-based home and garden company Burford Garden Company.
Tom Barry, managing director of Hartley Botanic commented: ?We wanted to develop and execute the best trade stand possible this year ? not just to win awards but to win current and future customers. Hartley Botanic?s 79 year old reputation for ?the finest greenhouses money can buy? and its new RHS recommended status has been built on pioneering design and quality which exceeds expectations. It felt fitting that this year?s trade stand reflected these principles in the plant and stand design as well as through our expertly crafted greenhouses and glasshouses. There is no reason why our trade stand cannot be as inspiring and enticing as RHS Chelsea?s show gardens this year, and this is our aim.?
David Dodd, co-director?of Longview Design and owner of The Outdoor Room commented: ?As a company we are very proud to be involved in Hartley Botanic?s high profile and exciting exhibit. They represent the best in greenhouse and glasshouse design and have a strong heritage as the manufacturer of choice for the UK?s leading horticultural institutions and organisations. We believe our design will help underline their horticultural credentials at the same time as celebrating their exceptional greenhouse and glasshouse structures.?
Glen Sheldrake, horticulture director, Burford Garden Company added; ?Burford Garden Company was delighted to be invited to supply and plant the gardens and greenhouses on the Hartley Botanic stand at Chelsea this year. With us both being British heritage brands with an eye for quality and detail, we felt it was a great fit. We have worked tirelessly to source the finest plants for the stand, creating a multi-sensory experience for all who visit. We are sure the Hartley Botanic exhibit will be taking the trade stand category to a new level.?
Hartley Botanic trade stand ? stand number 31
Images copyright of Longview Design.
