Gold medal-winning garden at RHS Chelsea
We were appointed to construct the London Square Chelsea Pensioners Garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025.
Designed by Dave Green, sponsored by London Square and created in collaboration with the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the garden was awarded an RHS Gold medal.
It was a particularly meaningful project because the garden was always intended to have a permanent life beyond the show. The finished landscape needed to work as an impressive Chelsea exhibit while also becoming a practical, accessible and welcoming garden for the Chelsea Pensioners.
A garden shaped around the Chelsea Pensioners
The garden was designed as a sheltered space where Chelsea Pensioners could meet friends and family, spend time outdoors or enjoy quieter moments of reflection.
Dave Green developed the design after speaking with Chelsea Pensioners about their experiences, travels and shared history. These stories influenced details throughout the garden, including seating upholstered using recycled scarlet uniforms and a world map table.
The garden also reflected the contrast between the Pensioners’ public and private lives. The more colourful outer planting represented ceremonial occasions, while the calmer centre created a quieter and more personal setting.
A sheltered woodland setting
Substantial trees and layered planting created a calm woodland atmosphere around the central seating area.
British oak arches framed views through the space, while York stone paving created durable and accessible routes. Brighter planting around the boundary was balanced by quieter, more textural planting towards the centre.
Together, these elements helped the garden feel protected without becoming enclosed. The structure of the paving and oak features provided clear routes through the space, while the planting introduced softness, seasonal interest and a sense of maturity.
From RHS Chelsea to the Royal Hospital
Our team worked alongside the designer, sponsor and specialist contractors to deliver the hard landscaping, structural features and planted environment within Chelsea’s condensed build programme.
The completed garden needed to appear established from the moment the show opened, with the trees, paving, planting and bespoke details working together as one finished landscape. We were delighted to see this recognised with an RHS Gold medal.
Following the show, the garden was relocated to the Prince of Wales Courtyard at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Its trees, planting, oak features and York stone paving now form a permanent space that can continue to be enjoyed by the Chelsea Pensioners.
The project demonstrated how a show garden can combine thoughtful storytelling, accessibility and high-quality landscaping with a lasting purpose.
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