Monty Don has expressed his delight that his first-ever Chelsea Flower Show garden has found a new purpose at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, bringing joy to rescue dogs. The BBC Gardeners' World presenter collaborated with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and horticulturalist Jamie Butterworth to create the RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden for last year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
A Garden with a Mission
The garden, one of the most high-profile RHS feature gardens in recent years, was relocated just over the River Thames to Battersea after the flower show. Plants were transported on trolleys, and the garden was replanted immediately following the event. It was officially opened by the Queen in July 2025, despite a pre-opening raid by local foxes that flattened many plants.
Since then, the garden has become a vital green space for dogs at Battersea, offering grass, a pond, and planting for them to run around, undergo behavioural assessments, and interact with potential new owners. Nathalie Ingham, canine behaviourist and training manager at Battersea, highlighted the importance of this space: "It's really important for us to have this garden because, being in central London, the site is quite heavily concreted and astroturfed. This is an amazing space for them to relax and enjoy a bit of free time."
Adapting to the Dogs' Needs
The garden has undergone modifications to better suit its new residents. Some original plants were removed due to potential toxicity to dogs, and the pond was adapted. The original dog-friendly lawn did not fit and was replaced with conventional grass, though plans are in place to sow hardy plants like daisies. A new pathway prevents the garden from becoming churned up in winter.
Dawn Richards, lead horticulturalist at Battersea, explained: "It's a garden that's going to evolve every year as we adapt it to meet the needs of our operation team and the dogs. Gardens are to be used; they're not going to stay looking like a show garden. That was never the intention. It's been really well-loved and well-used, and as part of that, we have to change things. That's part of the fun—it is a living space that's changing and growing, and that makes it extra special."
Monty Don's Vision Realised
Don revealed that Battersea was always the intended destination for the garden, with Chelsea serving merely as a stopover. "We were really just a stopping off point on the way on one side of the river, and then it continued across to the other side," he said. "The whole experience was daunting, fun, and life-enhancing. If that sense of reward and pleasure could be shared by people and dogs, particularly dogs that need help and love, I'm very happy."
He added: "I hoped it would give people pleasure, I hoped I could share the kind of gardens I love, and my love of dogs—dogs have been part of my life all my life. It was a celebration of gardens and dogs, and all that I've got out of gardening. The fact it was going to Battersea was the clincher—I got real satisfaction out of that."
However, Don confirmed that he has not changed his mind about this being his first and last Chelsea garden. "I have no plans to do another garden for anybody other than myself. Never say never, but not for the foreseeable future," he said.
