Jo Thompson’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, The Chelsea Barracks Garden, will be transferred to the Royal British Legion Village in Aylesford after the show in May.

Jo, who started her garden design business in Cranbrook, Kent, is in her eighth year at the show and will be presenting a traditional British rose garden that will be re-imagined for the 21st century. The garden will be sponsored by Qatari Diar and built by Landform.

Roses will be a main feature of the garden. They reference the listed Garrison Chapel, with its stained glass Rose Window, which is preserved as the development's centrepiece.

The garden will be a place where people can relax and socialise and a bronze sculpture will pay tribute to the Barracks' former residents while a sculpted stone tidal rill will reference the lost River Westbourne, symbolising its original path under the Chelsea Barracks site.

Jo's design has been inspired by the heritage of the Chelsea Barracks site, which neighbours the Royal Hospital, where the Chelsea Flower Show has been held since 1913.

Jo, who created the Demelza House garden at RHS Chelsea for the Sittingbourne children's hospice in 2009, said: "I was excited to be approached about creating a Chelsea Barracks Garden for RHS Chelsea. I used to live nearby and would walk past every day on my way to work and so I was thrilled to have the chance to discover more about the impressive plans for this unique site.

"I'm also delighted to be designing my eighth garden at the RHS Chelsea and look forward to creating something really beautiful for the public to enjoy."

About Jo Thompson:

With a practice established in Cranbrook, Kent, in 2006 and a portfolio of projects for private, commercial and charitable clients in the UK and abroad, Jo Thompson is one of the UK’s leading garden designers.

Her more public successes include medal winning show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and events in Russia and Japan. She was named a Society of Garden Designers Future Designer in 2014.

Jo is a member of the RHS Gardens Committee and Garden Advisor to RHS Rosemoor. She is also Chair of the RHS Hampton Court Summer Gardens selection panel and a visiting tutor at the London College of Garden Design.
Jo’s style is quintessentially British with a contemporary twist. She is also recognised for working with, and introducing, high-calibre British craftspeople.

Last year, Jo was recognised at the 60th anniversary ‘Women of the Year’ lunch, for women who have achieved something of significance.

She has also spoken about the need for more female garden and landscape designers to have the chance to showcase their talents in the high profile environment created by shows such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

• RHS Chelsea run from May 24-28, 2016, visit rhs.org.uk