Ocean Events

World-first: Seagrass to feature in garden design at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025

For the first time in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show's history, seagrass will take centre stage in a garden designed by Ryan McMahon for the marine restoration charity Seawilding.

13/01/2025
Written by Nane Steinhoff
Main photograph by Seawilding
Garden design by MUSA Landscape Architecture

This year’s much-anticipated RHS Chelsea Flower Show (running March 20th to 25th) will, for the first time ever, place a special emphasis on seagrass – the ocean’s only flowering plant that resembles an underwater meadow.

The Seawilding Garden will draw inspiration from the vital work of marine restoration charity Seawilding in restoring lost biodiversity to our marine environment. The garden, which is designed by RHS Chelsea newcomer Ryan McMahon of MUSA Landscape Architecture, will highlight the efforts of a remote Scottish community in reversing biodiversity loss in coastal waters, focusing on the restoration of two keystone species: seagrass (Zostera marina) and native oysters (Ostrea edulis) to their sea loch.

The entry is being sponsored by the grant-giving charity Project Giving Back, with additional funding from The William Grant Foundation.

“We are excited to bring marine restoration into the spotlight at RHS Chelsea,” said Danny Renton, Seawilding CEO. “This is not just a garden; it’s a story of how coastal communities can lead the fight to restore biodiversity and combat climate change; it’s also a call to action for people, businesses and communities to recognise the degraded state of our coastal and marine eco-systems, and to work together to restore ocean health.

“The garden serves as a symbolic reminder that restoration efforts must extend from land to sea if we are to successfully address the climate and biodiversity crisis.”

The garden’s design has been inspired by the landscape found at Loch Craignish, located on the west coast of Scotland and home of Seawilding. A viewing window at the front of the garden offers a glimpse into the underwater world of Loch Craignish, inspiring conversations around marine restoration.

The garden planting, inspired by that around Loch Craignish is wild in character with native species that are found in, or should be found around the loch.

Ryan McMahon from MUSA Landscape Architecture, said: “I’ve long admired the important work of pioneering marine restoration charity Seawilding, having first learned about their work via social media, so when the opportunity arose to create a show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show supported by Project Giving Back, they were my first choice.

“As a keen ocean swimmer, with a love for our natural environment, I always assumed seagrass grew in warmer climates. But when I learned through Seawilding that it grows in our coastal seas, I was intrigued. The more I discover about seagrass, the more fascinated I become by the incredible role it plays in our marine ecosystems.”

At the front of the garden, a saltwater pool, planted with seagrass, will emerge from sandstone rocky outcrops. A stone path will lead past a pebble beach area and the saltwater environment, separating it from a freshwater bog area that will lead to an informal seating space. Framed by native trees at the rear of the garden, a 2.5m high seagrass sculpture made from recycled scrap metal will also rise from the landscape and gently flow over the seating rocks, visually connecting the land-based garden to the seagrass at the front.

Fascinatingly, the seagrass displayed in the water feature of the garden is expected to come from the West Coast of Scotland. The Ocean Conservation Trust at the National Aquarium in Plymouth will assist in its maintenance to ensure it remains in good health for the duration of the show.

Ryan McMahon added: “We are working with Rare British Plants to include a number of rare native plants, some only found at one location in Scotland, bringing one of the core objectives of Seawilding to the garden: restoring lost biodiversity. Shells and pebbles from local beaches will be collected by Seawilding’s Youth Group ‘The Seawildlings’ and local primary school children will grow some of the plants in the garden.”

Other plants used in the innovative garden design are sphagnum mosses which can absorb more than eight times their own weight in water and can, similar to seagrass, sequester large amounts of carbon, bog myrtle, cowberry, blaeberry, globe flowers, and Alpine rock cress, amidst other plants.

After the show, the garden will be relocated back to Craignish for community use and maintained by local volunteers. Most of the garden will be relocated to a site in the middle of the village of Ardfern, just behind the primary school, which is called ‘Talamn An Righ’ (The King’s Playground). It’s a green space with a Roundhouse that is used for community events. The rest will be dispersed around the peninsula with the sculpture incorporated into a sculpture trail at Lunga.

Hattie Ghaui, CEO of Project Giving Back, commented: “Project Giving Back is thrilled to support the Seawilding Garden at RHS Chelsea 2025. Biodiversity loss is a critical global challenge, and seagrass, the ocean’s only flowering plant, plays a key role as a habitat for marine life and a vital carbon sink. Sadly, 95% of the UK’s seagrass meadows have vanished due to disturbance, pollution, and disease. Seawilding’s groundbreaking restoration work at Loch Craignish empowers communities to restore coastal waters by reviving seagrass and native oyster beds, delivering lasting, measurable impact. We hope this garden inspires others to help protect and restore our precious marine ecosystems.”

Written by Nane Steinhoff
Main photograph by Seawilding
Garden design by MUSA Landscape Architecture

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