The 2025 RHS Chelsea Killik & Co Futureproof Garden, designed by Baz Grainger, landscape designer at Landform Consultants reflects Killik & Co’s generational approach to financial planning in terms of safeguarding finances for the future. The garden follows a similar approach of looking to the future, accounting for how the climate may influence our future spaces, whilst offering adaptive solutions to manage the consequences.
Grainger’s second RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden for the investment company, Killik & Co – having designed their 2024 Silver-gilt awarded ‘Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees’. He joined Landform Consultants in 2023 following a career in fashion for over 20 years – retraining in Garden Design at National Design Academy in Nottingham in 2017.
“I am thrilled to be working with Killik & Co once more and presenting this garden of the future. We have all experienced the effects of our changing climate – just this past year has seen record high temperatures at the start of the year as well as unprecedented rainfall in other parts of the country – therefore I am delighted to be able to offer various future-proofing solutions on how we can manage our changing climate. It is not just the garden that is ahead of its time, we are using a cutting-edge eco-friendly 3D printing process to create some of the main elements of the space. This will not only cut down on construction time and waste, it will be the first time any such methods have been employed at the show. We want visitors to understand that by making some adjustments to their planting, managing rainwater and directing its flow, they can significantly improve their garden’s resilience to unpredictable weather patterns. Even small changes can make a significant positive impact.”
Designed with a family in mind, the garden anticipates the challenges of a changing climate in the next 25 years. With rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns, like drought and flooding, the garden’s resilient design aims to withstand these extremes.
Inspired by architectural rainscaping techniques, this garden is divided into three zones, a family area, a flood zone and a water capture area. The seating area is covered by a unique, on-site 3D-printed pergola – using a cutting-edge technique never before seen at the show. Cantilevered troughs suspended within a stone arch capture rainwater and direct it to a water feature that overflows into a designated flood zone during heavy rainfall. A steel water tank on the rear boundary wall also collects rainwater runoff, while the permeable paths and paving are strategically designed to channel water towards flood zones.
The planting is soft, with the feel of a cottage garden but will feature plants more often associated with the South of France or Northern Spain, reflecting the predicted shift towards a warmer climate in southern England. The garden showcases ‘Future Trees’ such as Zelkova serrata and Pinus mugo ‘Mughus’ which are resilient to drought, flood and rising temperatures.
Georgie Killik from Killik & Co said: “We are delighted to be working once again with Baz Grainger after our RHS Chelsea debut this year. We feel that he has effectively reflected the benefits of multi-generational financial planning and how working closely with an expert can help futureproof your finances. The garden offers practical adaptations on tackling vital issues and includes some really exciting and visually stunning elements. We can’t wait to see it take shape.”
The garden, sponsored by Kilik & Co, will be built by Landform Consultants and is to be relocated to a Centrepoint women’s shelter for 18-21 year olds in Camden.