The Whittard of Chelsea Garden

by Whittard of Chelsea

Our RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 entry with landscape garden designer, Ollie Pike

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Published 20/8/26. Reviewed 24/9/26

We've won Gold! It's an absolute honour to announce that the Whittard of Chelsea Container Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has received this incredible award.

Born in Chelsea in 1886, Whittard of Chelsea has always celebrated the simple, peaceful pleasure of a perfectly made cup of tea. As we mark 140 years, we are delighted to return to where our story began.

To mark this milestone, we are collaborating with RHS Gold Medal winner and Best in Show recipient Ollie Pike to create our very first garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2026. Inspired by a small Chelsea courtyard, the garden will offer a tranquil retreat. A sanctuary where nature, tea, and a sense of wonder come together, inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and savour the moment.

The Garden

The garden transforms a small Chelsea courtyard into a calm retreat. Here, nature, tea and a sense of wonder come together to create the perfect sanctuary - a place to pause, reflect, and savour the moment.

The simple act of pouring tea holds deep significance. In many cultures, it is even considered an art form. The beauty and sound of the pour have inspired the garden's design. A network of copper pipes winds gently through the space, echoing this ritual in graceful streams of water, enriching the garden with a soothing, meditative atmosphere.

The Idea

Imagine a small London courtyard owned by an eccentric, maverick tea enthusiast. An eclectic collection of containers, each marked with its own colourful patina has been reclaimed and repurposed into characterful planters. Together, they form a cosy seating area, enclosed by nature. Rich in fragrance and colour, the planting includes many of the ingredients found in Whittard's infusions.

Almost every element in the garden is reclaimed or recycled. Just like Whittard of Chelsea, the garden celebrates the art of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Following the show, we will donate the garden to a community centre, allowing others to continue enjoying this beautiful space.

Meet Ollie Pike

How did you first get in to garden design?

I also grew up in rural parts of the West Country, exploring the countryside, making dens, playing in woodlands etc. My passion for making combined with my love of nature lead me to studying Landscape Architecture at the University of Sheffield. I graduated and went on to work for various well-known landscape and garden design companies before setting up my own design studio in 2023.

You won Best in Show at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show in 2024 - how did that feel?

It was a great feeling! Show Gardens are a huge effort, not just the 2 weeks you get to build the garden, but the many months, sometimes years before in preparation. Seeing people's reaction to a garden and the profound affect it has on people is a hugely rewarding feeling.

How would you describe your signature approach to garden design?

Sensitive and light touch, crafted, and responding to a narrative or history.

How do you go about starting a garden design?

It's all dependent on the project and brief. Generally, it will be an instant sketch after seeing a site or being given an idea - my brain is very visual. If a site or brief is more tricky then research, history and narrative come first.