National Trust Garden Collection to launch at Chelsea 2011

Nine British companies have come together to form the National Trust Garden Collection, offering a range of gardening items from summerhouses to spades, sales of which generate income for the Trust’s conservation work including that of its gardens.

The collection – which includes products from Alitex Greenhouses, Crane Sheds, Gaze Burvill outdoor furniture, Oak Leaf Gates, Scotts of Thrapston Summerhouses and Westminster Stone – will be launched at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May.

The exhibition stand, which will also feature National Trust plants, has been designed by Louise Harries, graduate of the London College of Garden Design, who won a competition to design and build the stand.

On winning the National Trust Garden Collection stand competition, Louise said: “To create a garden space showcasing the best in British design and craftsmanship for the National Trust at The Chelsea Flower Show – a great British institution – is a dream project for me. I’m thrilled to be a part of the team.”

Each item in the garden collection takes inspiration from the extensive gardens, buildings, collections and land in the National Trust’s care and all are produced using traditional crafts and techniques. Examples include Scotts of Thrapston Summerhouses who base its licensed designs on outdoor structures cared for by the Trust, including the converted garden building used by George Bernard Shaw to create many of his masterpieces; and Gaze Burvill who concentrate on traditional wood crafts seen at many National Trust places to design and produce garden furniture.