Green issues take center stage at Chelsea Flower Show as children participate in 'green audit'

Children are playing a big role at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. They are helping to make the event more eco-friendly and focused on the climate crisis. This year, children have a special garden at Chelsea that only they can enter. They are also judging the show gardens for the first time. 72 kids from nine London schools will be junior judges. They will decide if the gardens are good for playing, wildlife, and how they make them feel. The children will give out a special award too. The gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show are being checked to make sure they are eco-friendly. They are being reviewed based on what materials were used, waste, plants and animals, water, and air. The show's director, Helena Pettit, says this year's event is one of the most eco-friendly in its history. The gardens are being planted with special plants that can survive with less water. The National Trust and Blue Diamond are showing a garden that celebrates the importance of green spaces and gardens in our lives. Some gardens at the show had to change their plants because of the warm weather. The lack of frost made some flowers bloom too early. Designers had to choose different plants that bloom later. The warm weather also affected the colors of the flowers. Some designers had to change their plans to match the new conditions. Despite the challenges, the designers are excited to show their gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show. The wet weather in April hurt garden sales in Britain. Garden centers saw a small increase in sales compared to last year. The industry is hoping that the Chelsea Flower Show will boost sales. The show is expected to create interest in plants that help the environment, like lavender. The show will also feature gardens designed by inmates and gardens that promote urban wildlife. The industry is optimistic that good weather and the show will encourage more people to start gardening.