All About

Plants

This category was successfully introduced at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 and proved hugely popular with visitors. It is open to designers who are passionate about unusual and rare plants, nurseries, plant societies and botanic gardens, with a vision that focuses on great planting combinations for a good cause. Designers in this category are encouraged to submit concepts and designs that are at least 80% planted and should note that excavations are not possible for this category's site at the show. Applications for 2026 garden funding are now closed.

Our Brief

All About Plants was introduced as a new garden category at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022. These gardens are intended to showcase plants in all their glory, where possible sourced from specialist nurseries.

All About Plants gardens will follow the usual RHS application process and will be judged by the RHS as a category in their own right. Gardens supported by Project Giving Back will be acknowledged as such on show signage and in the RHS Show Guide.

Arne Maynard, PGB trustee who has championed the All About Plants category since it was introduced in 2022, said:

“We would really like the All About Plants category to continue to evolve and develop as an opportunity for designers to showcase their love of plants, and the ways in which they can be combined in a small space. We are therefore encouraging new applications for All About Plants funding in 2026, but would urge designers and charities to visit the PGB website and read our guidance before applying. We will prioritise applications that demonstrate an understanding of the category and a commitment to work with specialist nurseries to showcase rare and unusual plants.”

Who do we have in mind?

Designers who are passionate about unusual and rare plants, specialist nurseries, plant societies or botanic gardens, in partnership with a UK-registered charity, community interest company or not-for-profit organisation. Applications are now closed.

Our garden criteria

Each All About Plants garden plot is 8m x 6m in size and must be at least 80% planted. No excavations are permitted for this garden category's site, so designers should be mindful of this when planning their planting schemes.

Partnering with a good cause

We encourage designers and charities to form a partnership before applying for funding from Project Giving Back. However, if you are yet to form a partnership between a designer and a good cause and would like to arrange a guidance call with the Project Giving Back team, please get in touch.

Contact us

Previous examples of gardens for good causes at Chelsea

High Maintenance Garden
Sue Ha
Motor Neurone Disease
Embroidered Minds Epilepsy Garden
Kati Crome
Embroidered Minds
Walker's Wharf Garden
Graham Bodle
Doncaster Deaf Trust
CWGC Centenary Garden
David Domoney
CWGC
The Resilience Garden
Sarah Eberle
Forestry Commission
Morgan Stanley Garden
Chris Beardshaw
NSPCC
Linklater Garden
Darren Hawkes
Maggie's
Lemon Tree Trust garden
Tom Massey
Lemon Tree Trust
Breast Cancer Now Garden
Ruth Wilmott
Breast Cancer UK
Myeloma UK Garden
John Everiss & Francesca Murrell
Myeloma
Donkey Sanctuary Garden
Christina Williams & Anne Prebens
Donkey Sanctuary
Space to Grow Garden
Naomi Ferrett-Cohen
Cherub HIV
CAMFED Garden
Jilayne Rickards
CAMFED
The Wedgwood Garden
Jo Thompson
Wedgwood
The M&G Garden
Cleve West
M&G
A Perfumer's Garden in Grasse
James Basson
L'Occitane
South African Protea Display
South African protea display - 2016
Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden
The Size of Wales Garden
The Pulp Friction Growing Skills Garden
Planet Good Earth Garden
The Panathlon Joy Garden
Bowel Research UK Microbiome Garden
The Teapot Trust Elsewhere Garden
The Talitha Arts Garden
School Food Matters Garden
The Sadler's Wells East Garden
Choose Love Garden
The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens
A Textile Garden for Fashion Revolution
Core Arts Front Garden Revolution
Mothers for Mothers Garden
Wilderness Foundation UK Garden

Partnering with a good cause

All About Plants is the only scheme that is for the specific benefit of horticultural charities. Applicants

We encourage designers and charities to form a partnership before applying for funding from Project Giving Back. However, if you are yet to form a partnership between a designer and a good cause and would like to arrange a guidance call with the Project Giving Back team, please get in touch.
Contact Us

Mentoring Opportunities

We will be announcing our mentoring scheme soon

Chantelle Bartrup

Social Media & Brand Executive
Project Giving Back

Elisa Davies

Finance and Compliance Director
Project Giving Back

Isabella Nunes da Costa

Project & Production Manager
Project Giving Back

Jennie Spears & Clare Johnson

PR & Communications Consultant
Bloom PR & Communications

Hattie Ghaui

CEO
Project Giving Back

Application Process

2024 Application process

1st September '22

Open to expressions of interest

23rd September ‘22

Deadline for expressions of interest

w/c 26th September ‘22

Applicants screened and long-list ready for review by PGB panel

3rd October '22

Long list of applicants invited to submit written brief + moodboards for Monday 28th November

  • Final meeting with the Project Giving Back Panel.
  • Successful applicants invited to prepare full application for the RHS selection process

w/c 12th December ‘22

Shortlist of applicants informed and given a grant to evolve application into formal presentation including concept sketch, masterplan, planting plan, budget breakdown and storytelling strategy for the good cause

27th/28th February ‘23 (TBC)

Shortlisted applicants meet and present to PGB selection panel

April ‘23

PGB funding choices selected and informed

25th May ‘23

PGB Workshop at The Garden Museum

May ‘23

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 applications open

September ‘23

RHS selection panel decisions (exact date TBC)

October ‘23

PGB funding contracts and payment schedules in place

2024 Application process

1st September '22

Open to expressions of interest

23rd September ‘22

Deadline for expressions of interest

w/c 26th September ‘22

Applicants screened and long-list ready for review by PGB panel

3rd October '22

Long list of applicants invited to submit written brief + moodboards by Monday 28th November

  • Final meeting with the Project Giving Back Panel.
  • Successful applicants invited to prepare full application for the RHS selection process

w/c 12th December ‘22

Shortlist of applicants informed and given a grant to evolve application into formal presentation including concept sketch, masterplan, planting plan, budget breakdown and storytelling strategy for the good cause

27th/28th February ‘23 (TBC)

Shortlisted applicants meet and present to PGB selection panel

April ‘23

PGB funding choices selected and informed

25th May ‘23

PGB Workshop at The Garden Museum

May ‘23

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 applications open

September ‘23

RHS selection panel decisions (exact date TBC)

October ‘23

PGB funding contracts and payment schedules in place

Visit the 2024 gardens for good causes

Learn moreLearn more

A few frequently asked questions

Can I apply if I have no prior experience of designing a garden at Chelsea?

Yes. While experience of designing and / or building a show garden is beneficial, we are keen to encourage new talent and do not require Chelsea experience in some of our funding categories. Every design that PGB commits to funding then goes before the RHS selection panel, who is likely to favour those who have exhibited at one of the other RHS shows like RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival or RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.. So, for Show Garden applications, you have a better chance of being accepted if you have designed a garden at one of the other RHS shows. However, please do not let this prevent you from applying - the category 'All About Plants' is designed to encourage new creative talent and we are keen to hear from all interested designers.

How does the Project Giving Back selection process relate to the RHS Selection Process?

Project Giving Back is not an alternative to the RHS selection process. Our aim is to identify interesting designers, nurseries and horticultural groups and encourage them to apply for PGB funding in partnership with a good cause. If you are successful in being selected by Project Giving Back, you will still need to apply to the RHS in the usual way and PGB funding is not a guarantee of space allocation at the show.


If I am turned down for PGB funding can I reapply in future years?

Yes. We would encourage you to reapply to the PGB funding application process with a new concept and design. If you are not successful in receiving PGB funding, you may of course continue with an application to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and we would encourage you to find an alternative source of funding.

View More FAQs

News

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Gardens for good causes funded by Project Giving Back announced for RHS Chelsea 2025

Grant-making charity Project Giving Back (PGB) will fund a further cohort of gardens for UK charities at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, all of which will be permanently relocated after the show to continue to benefit the good causes that have inspired them.

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All About Plants funding deadline extended

Project Giving Back supports gardens for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and while the deadline (Friday 4th October 2024) for the 2026 Show Garden funding applications has now passed, we’re pleased to announce that we will be extending the deadline for the 2026 All About Plants funding category to Monday 4th November 2024.

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PGB is now open to expressions of interest for 2026

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Gardens for Good Causes exhibition at the Garden Museum

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Project Giving Back Statement for 2026

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This year’s All About Plants designs revealed

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There’s hope in a garden

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Show & Sanctuary Gardens announced for RHS Chelsea 2024

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Application process and timeline explained for 2025 garden funding

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Announcing extended support of gardens for good causes at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Project Giving Back (PGB) intends to continue its support of gardens for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2025 and 2026. Expressions of interest for 2025 funding can be submitted via the Project Giving Back website from Friday 22 September to Friday 3 November 2023. All gardens supported by PGB are repurposed in permanent locations around the UK after the show as ongoing legacies for the causes that inspired them.

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Garden Museum to present gardens for good causes exhibition

We are excited to be back at the Garden Museum in September with a two week exhibition celebrating the 15 gardens supported by PGB at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023. All our 2023 gardens for good causes are being relocated to permanent homes throughout the UK.

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2022 Impact Summary

Project Giving Back offers a form of creative philanthropy in which good causes receive a gift of opportunity rather than direct funding. Wide ranging benefits include opportunities for extensive press and social media coverage, hosting exclusive events for potential donors and direct engagement with thousands of show visitors. We asked our 2022 garden teams to tell us how their experience at RHS Chelsea 2022 has impacted their charity so far.

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Full list of 2023 gardens for good causes revealed 

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RHS Chelsea 2023 Show Gardens announced

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Gardens for Good Causes 2022 exhibition at The Garden Museum

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Funding applications for 2024 gardens to open

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Charity status and new CEO confirmed

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‘Our story so far’ with Chair of our Advisory Panel, Rosie Atkins

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Project Giving Back announced

We're so pleased to be able to announce a new and unique organisation that will provide funding for gardens inspired by UK charities and not-for-profit organisations at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

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Gardens for good causes funded by Project Giving Back announced for RHS Chelsea 2025

Grant-making charity Project Giving Back (PGB) will fund a further cohort of gardens for UK charities at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, all of which will be permanently relocated after the show to continue to benefit the good causes that have inspired them.

News

All About Plants funding deadline extended

Project Giving Back supports gardens for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and while the deadline (Friday 4th October 2024) for the 2026 Show Garden funding applications has now passed, we’re pleased to announce that we will be extending the deadline for the 2026 All About Plants funding category to Monday 4th November 2024.

News

PGB is now open to expressions of interest for 2026

Project Giving Back supports gardens for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and we are excited to announce that we are open to applications for funding for all categories listed on our website for 2026.

News

Gardens for Good Causes exhibition at the Garden Museum

The annual Gardens for Good Causes Exhibition will be on display at the Garden Museum in London from 13 - 29 September

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