When was the first Chelsea Flower Show and who started it

A.� The very first show in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, was held in 1912 and organised by Sir Harry Veitch, whose world famous nursery was situated at the World's End on the nearby Kings Road.

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A.� Yes. Chelsea Flower Show is the title given to the Royal Horticultural Society's Great Spring Show which has been going for nearly 140 years. The society's first show was held in its garden in Kensington in 1862. Six years later the garden was closed and the show was forced to move to the Temple Gardens near the Embankment, where it stayed until 1911.

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In 1912, the show made way for the Royal International Horticultural Exhibition for which Veitch secured the hospital grounds. It was originally to be a one-off event, but the location proved so popular among the public and exhibitors alike it was moved there on a permanent basis from 1913.

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A. Chelsea is a very British institution. It has strong links with the monarchy and is one of the big events on the 'society' calendar. The days of the debutant may be in decline, but Chelsea is still very much an event to be seen at for the British middle and upper classes.

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A.� There is a definite backlash against the recent decking and 'instant garden' trend in favour of a return to a more natural, less manicured, unkempt look. Wildflowers and native plants are becoming more and more popular and there are now even nurseries specialising in decorative 'weeds'.

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A.� Chelsea is the pinnacle of the show season for nurserymen, and highly lucrative too. Winning a gold medal at Chelsea is the ultimate honour in the horticultural world and marks a nursery out as one that supplies quality plants. Garden designers from around the world queue up to exhibit at Chelsea and such is the demand that you can't just buy a space, you have to be invited.

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