Football Legend Teams Up With Royal Horticultural Society
Former England captain Sir David Beckham has announced his involvement in creating a special garden for the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. The football icon will work as an ambassador for the King's Foundation alongside horticulturist and television presenter Frances Tophill.
Inspiring Connection With Nature
Beckham revealed that his passion for gardening began during childhood visits to his grandparents. "My love for the countryside started when I was a child visiting my grandparents," the former Manchester United star explained. "I've experienced how rewarding gardening can be and that's why I'm looking forward to working with The RHS and The King's Foundation on their Curious Garden at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show."
The project, named The RHS and The King's Foundation Curious Garden, aims to encourage visitors to discover the joy of gardening and understand plants' crucial role in supporting human health and environmental sustainability. Beckham expressed his hope that the initiative will "inspire people to get outside into nature and to try something new."
Star-Studded Horticultural Collaboration
Frances Tophill, familiar to viewers as a presenter on Gardeners' World, will lead the garden's design. She shared her excitement about creating her first Chelsea garden, stating she aims to "explore my own curiosity about plants and their vital role in bringing health to people and to planet."
The project will also feature involvement from renowned broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh, who emphasised the garden's broader environmental message. "We will be highlighting how simply growing more plants helps mitigate both the biodiversity and climate crises," Titchmarsh noted, adding that gardeners are "more important today than ever."
The Chelsea Flower Show event is scheduled to run from May 19 to 23, 2026, with garden apprentices and trainees from both The King's Foundation and RHS participating in the creation process. The project will also showcase traditional skills such as woodwork from the Foundation's students and graduates.
The King's Foundation, which focuses on building sustainable communities through practical education, offers gardening courses at its Dumfries House headquarters in East Ayrshire. This collaboration represents another step in Beckham's public engagement with environmental causes, following his previous social media posts sharing his gardening interests.
