Inspired by WaterAid’s work around the world, the 2024 RHS Chelsea WaterAid garden, designed by celebrated architect Je Ahn and landscape designer Tom Massey, highlights the importance of sustainable water management and harnessing the power of rainwater.
Wildflower seed company, Seedball has provided Tom Massey’s team with boxes, each containing six seed balls made from a mix of ten drought-tolerant wildflower seeds inspired his the WaterAid Garden. All species will be featured in the garden, such as common knapweed, wild carrot and poppy.
Ana Attlee, conservation scientist and co-founder of Seedball said: “We are so thrilled to provide bespoke seed balls for Tom and the WaterAid Garden. Each year we are seeing the effect more and more of climate change, and this is impacting the plant life in our gardens too. But through water conservation and rain harvesting we can support plants, reduce water waste and make a big difference. The boxes supplied contain a selection of seed balls, all of which contain the species, or very close relatives of, the plants on display in the WaterAid Garden. They have been picked for their drought-tolerant properties and ability to thrive in challenging conditions, as well as their positive impact on wildlife.”
Seedball will also be exhibiting at the show with a display of native plants, demonstrating the connection between beauty, functionality and biodiversity. Attlee added: “RHS Chelsea is arguably the most significant date in the horticultural calendar, so we’re super excited to be back there this year, with an even more interactive and open display for visitors to enjoy exploring. Our aim is to showcase the incredible diversity and versatility of wildflowers, wild herbs and salad plants, demonstrating how they not only look beautiful but also serve practical purposes in the kitchen for food, for our health and of course for wildlife too! We hope to inspire visitors to embrace the potential of wildflowers to transform their gardens into vibrant, thriving ecosystems that nourish nature, body and soul, as well as creating a display of colour and beauty to adore.”