Chelsea Flower Show

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is one of my favourite events of the year, and this year's show was outstanding and full of inspiration.

Being among gardens so full of beautiful flowers, foliage and fragrance is a balm for the senses.

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Hours slipped away in the Grand Pavilion, where I lost myself among the roses at the David Austin stand, one of my favourites. The heady fragrance and the beauty of the delicate roses were mesmerising.

It was a pleasure to see, in full bloom, the rose varieties I had recently ordered from David Austin for a new border I am creating, and to take good advice from their expert growers.

A clear theme ran through this year's show: many of the show gardens were strongly environmental and designed around encouraging nature into the garden.

One of my favourites was ‘A Rewilding Britain Landscape’ by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt, a garden inspired by the clever beaver. It focused on how this furry creature, known as an ‘ecosystem engineer’, improves biodiversity.

The designers showed how the ecosystem engineering of animals such as the beaver can have a profoundly positive effect on nature.

Alongside the inspiring gardens were plenty of stands showcasing fine arts and crafts, superb sculptures and remarkable water features for the garden.

It was a wonderful day, and the next floral event, in July, is already in the diary.