RHS Chelsea 2026 – the golden year of nostalgia

Many RHS Chelsea garden designers’ golden memories, taking a look back to celebrate the past, while at the same time looking to the future, brought about a gold bonanza

It was a great year at RHS Chelsea with some showstopping Large Show Gardens highlighting important environmental messages – but it was the gardens with a nod to nostalgia at the greatest flower show in the world, that reaped a clutch of gold medals.

Each nostalgia-themed garden encouraged people to lose themselves in their own garden; rekindle their love of being outdoors, creativity and traditional crafts. Here are the nostalgia-themed garden gold medal winners:

The Time for Creativity

‘Stop scrolling and put down your mobile phones!’

Christina Cobb’s garden was designed to make people think about reducing ‘mindless scrolling’ on their mobile phones and, in turn, make time for hobbies they are neglecting.

The Time for Creativity garden was free from distraction with a wooden greenhouse at the centre stocked with books, crochet and knitting wools and needles, a sewing kit, paints, paper and crafts, sketchbooks and a flower press ‘for doing anything and everything creative’.

Little Garden of Shared Knowledge Balcony Garden.

‘I drew on memories of my parents growing fruit and veg’

Designer Katerina Kantalis’s beautifully curated balcony garden was a real crowd-pleaser (I loved the pomegranate tree) shaped by ‘a deep sense of nostalgia for her childhood’.

“It draws directly on memories of watching my parents grow fruit and vegetables in Australia, where gardening was simply part of everyday life,” she said.

“Their garden was the place I first learned to nurture plants and to celebrate the reward of home‑grown food. My father, who I always describe as ‘the king of tomatoes’, had a huge influence on my love of growing, while my mother taught me to see plants as companions that support one another.

“That sense of nostalgia was woven into the balcony garden through the edible planting and its celebration of shared knowledge both echo the way my parents gardened and passed on their skills.

“It’s a quiet tribute to the idea that even the smallest space can hold a whole world of memories and that gardening is a way of staying connected to the country you come from.”

Little Garden of Shared Knowledge sponsored by Viking.

Tales of the Riverbank RHS Balcony Garden

‘We reflect on a community who preserve the riverbank’

Tales from the Riverbank celebrated the arts and crafts of a bygone era of riverside living, an approach to enjoying a revival as more people seek a simpler, more connected way of life.

Designers Susie and Kate Henning said it reflected ‘a community that works together to preserve the integrity of the riverbank, rather than closing the door on the outside world’. The river-dwelling, a floating home with a fully functioning garden away from the hustle of working life, blended seamlessly with the natural riverbank environment.

Kate Henning said creating an RHS Balcony Garden was an opportunity to show how wonderful a houseboat garden can be and key features included a dipping tank, an outdoor entertaining and cooking area, and clever use of space, utilising the boat’s roof to grow edibles.

Sponsored by Kennedys’ Independent Property Agents.

The Woodland Trust: Forgotten Forests Garden

We all have memories of walking in the woods as children and playing in the leaves. Sadly, woodlands have been disappearing so this garden has an important message.

The Woodland Trust opens up ancient landscapes, letting in the light to awaken the dormant seed bank beneath, allowing ancient species to flourish once more. So, restoration is the powerful theme in this garden, a story of hope that with care and patience, ancient woodlands can reclaim their place in the natural world.

Designer Ashleigh Aylett caught the judges’ eye with regimented conifers which gave way to a more diverse ‘pocket woodland’ bursting with life and beauty. The woodland planting, in dappled light was vibrant green withn with ferns and wildflowers as well as Viburnum opulus (guelder rose) recognised as an ancient woodland indicator in Britain.

Asked ‘what’s next?’ after winning gold and the Best All About Plants Garden Award, Ashleigh replied: “I am going to get some sleep!”

The Woodland Trust is calling for greater legal protection and a national rescue plan to restore vital habitats – for nature, climate and future generations. It is not an instant result but a living story of renewal rather than a finished forest.

Sponsored by Project Giving Back.

‘A Seed in Time’ Garden

This family garden designed by Baz Grainger blended traditional crafts and water harvesting with a modern, wildlife-friendly design for climate resilience.

At the heart was a central wetland surrounded by structures built with historic straw bale and reed building techniques that are not often seen these days.

The UK ranks among the world’s most nature-depleted countries, with around 50% of its biodiversity remaining, compared to a global average of 75%, so this garden demonstrated how introducing biodiverse zones can improve species abundance, habitat health and help reverse biodiversity loss in the UK.

I am also always looking at how gardens can help reduce flooding and the garden, capturing rainwater into a small flood zone to form a central wetland habitat, was hugely inspiring. Planting was a triumph with fruiting trees, self-seeding plants and a mix of grasses including Melica altissima ‘Purpurea’, a striking tall grass.

Sponsored by Killick & Co.

Insuring your garden

For many of us, our garden is our sanctuary, yet it’s often overlooked when it comes to insurance.  For many homeowners, the garden is an extension of the home - often reflecting significant investment in design, planting and outdoor living.  Despite this, it is not always fully considered within a home insurance policy.

While some cover for plants, trees and shrubs may be included within a home policy, it is typically subject to limits, which may not reflect the true cost of replacing mature or specialist planting. High-value features should also be carefully considered. Sculptures, garden antiques and bespoke installations may fall outside standard contents cover and are often better suited to the arts and antiques section of a policy, sometimes on an agreed value basis.

It’s also important to take a holistic view of what sits within the garden. Furniture, outdoor kitchens, heating, play equipment and machinery can quickly accumulate considerable value. Ensuring your sums insured are accurate can help avoid underinsurance. You can read more in our article on contents underinsurance.

For those with larger grounds or more complex outdoor spaces, liability is another key consideration. The use of machinery or proximity to neighbouring properties, footpaths or public areas can introduce additional risk. You can read more about this in our article: Rural machinery and tools.

As seen at RHS Chelsea, today’s gardens are not only spaces of beauty and creativity, but also meaningful investments. Ensuring they are properly insured helps protect both the investment they represent and the time, care and craftsmanship that bring them to life.

To speak to us about you home insurance, call 020 8256 4901 or email privateclients@howdeninsurance.co.uk