Gnomes decorated by stars including actress Cate Blanchett and Queen guitarist Sir Brian May are set to appear at the Chelsea Flower Show. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has lifted its ban on gnomes for only the second time in the show's history, allowing the quirky ornaments to return.
The celebrity-decorated gnomes, also featuring contributions from Alan Titchmarsh, Dame Mary Berry, Tom Allen, Dame Joanna Lumley, and Bill Bailey, will be auctioned online from Friday until Sunday, May 24. Proceeds will support the RHS's Campaign for School Gardening, which helps children access gardening and learn practical skills.
Visitors to the show can spot some of the gnomes in the RHS and The King's Foundation Curious Garden, designed with input from King Charles III, Sir David Beckham, and Mr Titchmarsh. The garden aims to encourage curiosity about gardening, reflecting a tradition at Highgrove where a gnome often appears in The Stumpery.
The RHS first lifted the gnome ban in 2013 for the show's centenary. Clare Matterson, RHS director general, said the charity was delighted to lift the ban for such an important cause, thanking the celebrity contributors for helping inspire young people.
The Chelsea Flower Show has sold out for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced its cancellation in 2020 and a move to autumn in 2021. The RHS noted that the 150,000 tickets raise millions for community gardening programmes and climate change research.
