RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 - PBA Building PCA’s “The Enemy Within” Stand
The acclaimed RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 is almost upon us and the levels of excitement are rising in the office, as once again PBA Consulting will be there. This year PBA are leading the building of the PCA’s “The Enemy Within” stand. This is the third Chelsea Flower Show for the PBA team, and there is always an element of magic about the event.
Back in 2004 Peter and the Team worked hard with Westminster Council to bring their garden “Streets of London” to fruition. This featured architectural plants and a good collection of grass species. Flowering plant had to be in the peak of condition for the show with some requiring encouragement while others needed to be held back. The plant list was extensive from the European fan palm Chamaerops humilis, to Iris graminea, with a wide array of shrubs, ground cover and grasses. A garden absolutely packed out with scent, colour and form.
The trade garden for Courseworks Landscape Designers in the 2010 Chelsea Flower Show demanded a completely different approach. It needed to exemplify good landscape design as the key feature and demonstrate a restraining planting selection. A big impact was required all within the restrictions of an exhibition stand. Using a muted palate of green sliver and mauves a polished performance was achieved incorporating landscaping elements and graphics panels.
This year PBA Consulting are leading a team of Property Care Association (PCA) members in developing and installing the “The Enemy Within” stand in the Discovery Zone. The focus of this stand is on sleeper plants currently in use in British Gardens which could have serious ecological consequences should they escape into the wild.
Typically non-native invasive species are former escapees from gardens which have multiplied and spread in the British countryside to the point where they negatively impact the local flora and fauna. This has led to the inclusion of these plants in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
In this video prepared by the PCA Prof Max Wade explains the history, causes and potential future of non-native invasive plants.
The PCA has produced a behind-the-scenes video, highlighting how gardeners and other horticulturists can play a key role in curbing invasive non-native plant...