Plant health celebrated at Chelsea Flower Show, Soul Garden represents Finland
The world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show with a long history will again be held in London on 19–23 May 2020. Finnish nature will bloom in the spirit of plant health at Finnish Soul Garden designed by environmental biologist, landscape designer Taina Suonio.
“The UN Year of Plant Health is prominently featured at the show as plant health is in fact the main theme of the event. The show’s website gives practical advice to horticulture professionals and gardening enthusiasts on how to prevent plant diseases and pests,” Suonio says.
Finnish Soul Garden has a story to tell. The Finnish seashore garden with a sauna and shore plants indigenous to the Baltic Sea area will be moved to London for the visitors to admire. The water theme with large rocks on the shore complement the genuine atmosphere. The need to protect and preserve pollinators is highlighted by the insect hotel placed in the garden and the green meadow roof on top of the sauna.
“Bluebells and lilies of the valley bloom in the garden,” says Taina Suonio, who designed the garden.
“The EU legislation that came into force in the beginning of the year and the new Plant Health Act and Control Regulation have influenced the designs a great deal. For example, each plant imported to the UK must have a plant passport that meets the EU requirements,” she points out. “Collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has been rewarding in many ways, including in terms of clarifying what is required by law.”
The initiative to the International Year of Plant Health came from the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which is why the ministry is particularly happy that many garden shows also place considerable emphasis on plant health issues.
“The marvellous garden designed by Taina Suonio truly showcases what we have in Finland. This is the kind of collaboration we need to celebrate the Year of Plant Health, and the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show is the ideal venue for this,” says Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
By protecting plants we are protecting life.
More information
Plant health and International Year of Plant Health
Chelsea Flower Show
Finnish Soul Garden
- Taina Suonio, environmental biologist and landscape designer, taina.suonio(at)hotmail.com, www.rmgardens.fi