Five times awarded 5 Gold Stars at RHS Chelsea
Behind the scenes at RHS Chelsea 2025
Building a World of Enchantment
What does it take to build a stand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show? In today's blog, we take a look at the entire process of turning a grand idea into a magical storybook reality; from planning and logisitics to those all-important finishing touches. Dive in, why don't you?
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.”
Winnie-the-Pooh
How a bronze storybook garden comes to life
The world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show might last a mere five days, but for those of us building a stand from the ground up, the process begins much earlier – from the seeds of an idea to the pages of sketchbooks, and in the finer details of carefully designed blueprints.
This year, as has become a custom, our corner of Southern Road – Stand 152 – took shape gradually over a three-week period. What began as a marked-out rectangle in grass soon became a magical world of curving paths, vibrant, colourful plant life, and the odd gentleman fox in a rather dashing waistcoat.
Throw in diggers, telehandlers, cups of tea balanced on fence posts, and a rich cast of familar literary characters, and you’ll get a good idea of the Chelsea experience for Robert James Workshop.
Planning a garden that tells a story
As with any good story, everything begins on paper. Before we arrive at Chelsea, the layout is drawn to the letter: where each sculpture will sit, where the stream will flow, where visitors might pause to smile or point or take a picture. Indeed, the design is rooted firmly in narrative; the garden tells a story, and each sculpture is placed with care to reflect its place in the tale.
Once on-site, that original blueprint starts to take shape. We begin by marking everything out with spray paint, measuring and checking as we go. Large pieces are brought in by telehandler – the shepherd’s hut among them, as well as the custom-built pond and the delightfully grandiose Tea Party Urn, which always attracts a loyal following. The stream is dug by hand and shaped with corrugated metal edging. Slowly, the bones of the garden take form.
We must say a huge thank you to Tom Bastin who helped us tremendously with the construction of the stand this year – it really was a pleasure working with him and his team!
Bronze characters among the flowers
With the major features in place, the beloved characters arrive. Sculptures are positioned for visibility and to give a lifeforce to those beloved characters and stories. Alice looks upward toward the Cheshire Cat, who has taken up residence on the hut’s roof again once again. Elsewhere, Beatrix Potter’s garden is in an eternal state of gentle disarray, no thanks to the mischief-making of Peter Rabbit and his fondness for radishes.
Together, the sculptures form a tapestry of childhood memories and the well-worn pages from which they spring. And this year’s new additions – including a A.A. Milne’s beloved Tigger and our Judith Kerr-inspired Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog sculptures – were particularly well received.
Plants, moss and careful use of natural materials
The planting, as always, is a delicate but important business. Supplied by our longtime collaborators at Tony Benger Landscaping, the plants arrived by lorry and were installed over several days. Care is taken not to overpower the sculptures. The flowers support the stories rather than compete with them. Moss was used generously again this year to soften edges and lend the stand an organic, slightly untamed feel – more storybook glade than manicured showpiece.
Orange flowers appeared throughout the planting, a colour choice guided by the arrival of our tea-drinking tiger and the exuberant Tigger. A modest vegetable garden took shape near Peter Rabbit, complete with the occasional half-buried radish and just enough lettuce to keep our hero happy.
Wood, stone, and oak were chosen to harmonise visually with our bronze sculptures – nothing too polished or pristine – while the flooring was laid with resin aggregate, giving a firm footing without feeling out of place. Naturally, the bench by the shepherd’s hut remained a popular resting spot for visitors needing a minute.
One shepherd’s hut and five gold stars
Indeed, the shepherd’s hut itself has become quite the star of the show; both as our home base and a feature piece, drawing attention from visitors of all ages. This year, it once again housed some of our most important and intricate details – bookshelves, lighting, and of course, our industrious little stove. On chilly mornings, the hut kept us warm. On sunny afternoons, it provided shade. We’re not sure where we’d be without it!
We were thrilled to be awarded five gold stars once again this year – Chelsea’s highest recognition for a trade stand. But perhaps more meaningful were those smaller moments. Children pointing excitedly at familiar faces; grown-ups recognising long-lost friends from their favourite stories.
New stories, new sculptures and next year’s garden
After the crowds leave and the awards are handed out, the work begins again. Dismantling takes just a few days – a mere blink, compared to the careful build. Three lorries carry everything away. Sculptures are returned to the gallery. Plants returned to Tony Benger, where they’ll find homes in other gardens. The stream vanishes. The paths are lifted. The shepherd’s hut goes back on the road.
And we begin to plan again.
New stories are waiting. Sculptures are taking shape in the workshop. And somewhere on a well-worn sketchpad, the next Chelsea garden is stirring into life.
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