Garden celebrates 'strong beauty' of prison project

Drawings of The Glasshouse, which will go on display at the Chelsea Flower Show

A garden inspired by a South East social enterprise project helping to train women in prisons will celebrate "strong beauty" and femininity when it goes on display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The Glasshouse Garden will return to the show when it opens next week, showcasing the "healing power of nature", the project behind it says.

The garden, which is inspired by the work of The Glasshouse at East Sutton Park prison in Maidstone, will later be donated to women's prison HMP Downview in Banstead at the end of the show.

Jo Thompson, the designer behind the garden, said: "I said I would never do another Chelsea after my 10th show in 2019 but when the opportunity came up I couldn't say no."

She added: "These women are determined to improve their lives by getting some kind of training and making the most of it so that when they get out of prison they can find a job.

"You are stripped of all self-worth in prison and deprived of nature and by putting these women in the spotlight is wonderful for them."

Ms Thompson, who has creative studios in London and Eastbourne, said she wanted to use a colour palette of deeper reds, pinks and crimsons to portray the "strong beauty" that has inspired the garden design.

The garden centres around an elliptical pavilion made from recycled acrylic and is designed to offer a space of reflection and support which will eventually sit inside HMP Downview.

This is the second time The Glasshouse project had been able to take part in the Chelsea Flower Show after its garden, designed and built by women who were in prison or who had been recently released, won a gold medal in 2024.

The project provides horticultural training and support to women in prison, leading to a 0% reoffending rate.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show begins on Tuesday, 20 May and runs until Saturday, 24 May.