Why were garden gnomes banned at Chelsea Flower Show?
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Chelsea Flower Show has apparently relaxed its ban on garden gnomes again this year. Which feels like quite positive news for Britain.
Garden gnomes were originally banned from Chelsea Flower Show back in 1913, with the RHS considering them too informal and out of keeping with the show’s more traditional design standards. Over the years, gnomes became a bit of a symbol for what “serious” garden design supposedly shouldn’t include. The ban has only been temporarily lifted on a handful of occasions since then, usually to support charity campaigns or special events.
The return of garden gnomes at Chelsea Flower Show
This year, celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Mary Berry, Brian May and Joanna Lumley have been painting gnomes that will be auctioned to raise money for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.
Which feels strangely lovely, really. Because underneath all the Chelsea glamour and perfectly positioned alliums, gardening is still supposed to be enjoyable. The RHS has spoken quite openly this year about wanting gardening to feel more playful, more curious and more welcoming to people who may not see themselves in perfectly polished show gardens.
And perhaps that’s the point. Good gardens do not need to feel intimidating. They can be beautifully designed and still contain personality, humour and the occasional slightly questionable ornament somebody became emotionally attached to in 2007.
For years, gnomes somehow became the symbol of what “good” gardens weren’t supposed to include. Along with flamingos, novelty signs and anything remotely fun or personal. It was as if the only acceptable garden was one featuring perfectly clipped topiary, architectural seating and fences all painted anthracite grey. (There is nothing wrong with anthracite grey by the way, there are just a lot of fences that colour these days 😁)
And don’t get me wrong, I love beautiful design. I love thoughtful planting, calm spaces and gardens that feel balanced and well considered. But I also think gardens are supposed to feel personal. They are not show homes.
They are lived-in spaces where children run around barefoot, dogs destroy borders, plants unexpectedly collapse onto pathways and somebody occasionally buys a giant metal heron from a garden centre because they “quite liked it actually”. That’s real life.
The problem with “perfect” gardens
Interestingly, this conversation feels quite relevant at the moment, particularly with the rise of AI-generated garden imagery and the ongoing discussions around Chelsea Flower Show itself.
We’re surrounded by increasingly perfect garden visuals.
Perfect lighting. Perfect planting. Perfect gravel. Perfect Mediterranean courtyards that exist without weeds, wheelie bins or drainage problems.
But the gardens people tend to love most are rarely the most perfect. They are usually the ones that feel human. The ones with atmosphere. Personality. A sense of humour. A slightly wonky old bench hidden in the planting. A rusty firepit people gather around every summer. An inherited ornament that you just can't bring yourself to get rid of.
Should gardens reflect personality rather than perfection?
Good garden design isn’t really about removing personality from a space. It’s about creating a framework that allows personality to sit comfortably within it. A garden can still be beautifully designed while feeling relaxed, welcoming and lived in. In fact, those are often the gardens people feel happiest in.
And after several years of endless minimalist outdoor rooms featuring beige cushions and exactly three ornamental grasses placed with military precision, there’s something quite refreshing about gardens softening slightly again. A bit more individuality. A bit more warmth. Potentially even the occasional gnome. Within reason, obviously.
If you would like some advice for your garden, a garden design consultation is a great way to start.
Find out more about the process and contact Zoe to make a booking.
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