RHS Chelsea rescheduled to September 2021
For the first time in its 108 year history, the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) is postponing the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from Spring to Autumn of 2021 due to the worldwide pandemic.
The 2021 show would have taken place between 18th May and 23rd May 2021 but with coronavirus infection rates currently high across the UK and no guarantee on what tier London may be in over Spring, the decision has been taken to move the prestigious show to Autumn. The rescheduled show will now run from 21st to 26th September, 2021, at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
The RHS has done its utmost to ensure that the show could happen safely in May with numerous health and safety measures, however, with the virus continuing across the nation, the prudent decision to reschedule is a sensible one. Organisers stress their responsibility to exhibitors and everyone involved in the Show, visitors, partners, volunteers and staff and sensibly by rescheduling to later in the year it is anticipated that the vaccination programme will be well advanced and hopefully levels of infection will have reduced substantially.
The RHS will be in touch with everyone who has purchased a ticket for the event and are asking ticket holders to refrain from contacting them immediately so that they can handle the situation as efficiently as possible.
Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, says: “In these challenging times we have always followed Government advice and made difficult, responsible decisions with the health and safety of people our key concern.
“Whilst we are sad to have had to delay RHS Chelsea and are sorry for the disruption this will cause, we are excited that we are still planning to bring the world’s best loved gardening event to the nation at a time when more people are gardening more than ever.
“We know that the autumn dates may not be suitable for everyone, but with our fantastic industry partners we will do everything we can to support them and create a show that will be a moment in history. It will be exciting to see different horticulture and showcase the key autumn gardening season at the world’s most famous flower show. We believe many designers and nurseries will look forward to working with different plants that would not be available or at their best in May.
“Never have so many people gardened in recent times, nor needed the benefits of gardening more, so we will do our utmost to deliver a beautiful, uplifting and different RHS Chelsea safely in September 2021.”
(Welcome to Yorkshire Garden, 2019 Show)
The Show will be held over six days, instead of five, with the same reduced number of visitors. The RHS also point out that there will be many further coronavirus safety precautions being put into place for exhibitors, everyone involved in the show, visitors and RHS staff and volunteers.
Moving the Show to September will see a very different and hopefully innovative event and the RHS believes that it will be able to celebrate the best of autumn horticulture with many seasonal highlights. There will be the opportunity to show Salvias, Asters, Dahlias, grasses and fruit and vegetables as well as looking back to the historic Great Autumn Show for inspiration.
Exhibitors who were able to take part in the cancelled May event will now be given the opportunity to be at the autumn Show and the RHS will also be opening up applications for new gardens, nurseries and content.
The RHS hope that, as they are later in the year, both the RHS Shows at Hampton Court and Tatton Park will be able to go ahead, but they will continue to follow Government advice and update on any changes.
After the success of the online event held after the 2020 Show was cancelled, it is planned to hold another Virtual Chelsea during what would have been the May Show week.
All images ©Reckless Gardener