COP 26 Garden @ RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Sunil Radia • 12 November 2021

The 4 stages of bringing a garden back from decline in an environmentally friendly way

With the climate crisis in mind one of the highlights of the recent RHS Chelsea Flower Show was the COP 26 garden - 4 stages to recovery.  All sources have been cited below:


https://www.itv.com/news/2021-06-19/chelsea-flower-show-to-feature-cop26-garden-with-strong-political-message

 

A Cop26 garden with a “very strong political message” on how gardening can help the environment will feature at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.  

 

The large RHS garden, designed by Balston Agius, led by Marie-Louise Agius, will feature at the world-famous show, which has made a high-profile move to the autumn for the first time ever this year due to the pandemic.

 

It means the flower show at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, will be taking place in September in the run-up to the key United Nations Cop26 climate summit being hosted by the UK and set to take place in November in Glasgow.

 

Ms Agius said climate change cannot be ignored, but everyone can play their part through horticulture – even with just a window box – and she hopes people will take home ideas from the show.

 

“We need to be proactive about addressing the issues and we hope to show the role horticulture and a sustainable approach to the design of our external spaces can have in doing this.

 

“This is not an issue for ‘others’ to deal with – we each have an individual responsibility and opportunity to contribute towards improving climate change.

 

Speaking about the Cop26 garden, she said: “It’s got a very strong political message, we want everybody in the country to listen.

 

“We do particularly want government to listen because we want to support their environment plan, we are in agreement with them, but they also need to acknowledge the power of horticulture.”

 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/cop26

 

The RHS COP26 Garden demonstrates how our gardens, plants and public green spaces can play a crucial role in protecting our planet and people.

 

This garden has been divided into four zones for visitors to give ideas on how to create a garden adapted to climate change. These four areas have been named as:

Decline – this shows how the environment suffers from intense building and poor plantation.

Adaptation – this shows the planting needed to adapt to high temperatures and rainfall.

Mitigation – this gives ideas that can improve local habitats and fight the effects of climate change.

Finally, the balance area shows how we can work with nature to create a beautiful environmentally-friendly garden.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment The “decline” section is only a quarter of the 20 by 20 metre Cop26 garden. The other sections look at “adaptation”, “mitigation” and “balance”, and how gardeners can be part of the solution. It has been funded by the RHS with the aim of highlighting the importance of sustainable horticulture ahead of the Cop26 climate summit to be held in Glasgow in November.

Separating decline and adaptation is a burnt hedge, symbolic of the planet’s increasingly destructive wildfires. 

The next part of the garden – mitigation – takes visitors back to a typically bucolic English scene with an exuberant wildflower meadow, little pond, and beehives. A small ditch provides places for water to settle and damp-loving plants to thrive.

The final section of the garden is balance, which incorporates vegetables, as well as long grasses and fruit trees including lime, quince and pomegranate.

 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/gardens/2021/rhs-cop26-garden The RHS COP26 Garden contains innovative and cutting-edge elements. It also features achievable ideas that we can implement at home and in our communities. The RHS is encouraging everyone to make small changes to their own garden, and collectively those changes could make a big difference to our planet.

It’s an unconventional addition to the 108-year-old Chelsea Flower Show, but this thought-provoking creation is a warning of how dead our planet will be if we don’t change the way we manage green spaces, including over irrigating and using excessive drainage and too many chemicals.

Prof Alistair Griffiths, director of science and collections at the RHS, hopes the government will recognise and appreciate how important gardening is for climate resilience ahead of Cop26. He says: “We’re a passionate nation of gardeners. Gardening is one of a number of ways the UK general public can take action to help to mitigate against climate change.”

The latest categories to be added to RHS Chelsea are balcony gardens and container gardens, which have become more popular as people have focused on getting the most out of where they live. These pocket gardens fit in a 2 by 5 metre area and show how much can be done in a small space using pots. They are made by gardeners coming to Chelsea for the first time.

If you’re working from home spending eight or 12 hours a day working, it’s nice to put your laptop away, then go out into the air, see some green, see some birds and insects, and take that break.

The number of gardeners in the UK has grown by nearly 3 million over lockdown and now stands at 30 million. Organisers hope the pocket gardens will encourage increasing numbers of younger people on lower budgets to get into gardening.

The Chelsea flower show was cancelled last year and this year was postponed to 21-26 September from late May because of the pandemic. The Cop26 garden will go on to be incorporated into the RHS Garden Bridgewater in Greater Manchester and will be used to teach people about the climate crisis and gardening.

Case Study – Building Without Insurance

by Niket Kapur • 20 March 2026
A homeowner commenced building works on their property without arranging appropriate site insurance. This is not uncommon. There is often an assumption that either the contractor’s insurance will be sufficient, or that an existing household policy will continue to provide cover. In this case, neither applied. Partway through the project, it became clear that there was no valid insurance in place. At that stage, the position became significantly more difficult. Insurers were unwilling to provide cover retrospectively. From their perspective, the risk had already begun without protection, and they were being asked to step into an unknown position. The property was effectively uninsured during an active construction project. We were instructed to review the situation. A structured approach was taken, including: Clearly defining the scope and stage of the works Presenting the risk in a transparent and credible way Engaging directly with specialist insurers Following extensive discussions, we were able to: Secure appropriate site insurance cover Bring the project back within an insurable and protected framework This was not straightforward. It required persistence and a clear understanding of how insurers assess risk. On a construction project, the absence of insurance is not a minor oversight. It is a significant exposure. If you are planning a build, it is worth ensuring that the right cover is in place before work begins. 

Case Study – Council Tax, Planning Delays and Structural Issues

by Niket Kapur • 20 March 2026
A homeowner commenced a significant renovation project with the intention of improving and extending their property. The project did not proceed as expected. There were delays with planning, and during the course of the works, structural issues emerged which required a reassessment of the build. Ultimately, a substantial part of the property had to be demolished mid-project. At this stage, the property was clearly uninhabitable. However, the local authority took a different view. They imposed double council tax on the basis that the property was empty, applying the standard premium used to discourage long-term vacant properties. Representations were made to explain the position. These were rejected. The authority maintained a rigid stance and would not accept that the condition of the property and the nature of the works justified relief. The charges continued to accrue. We were instructed to review the situation. A detailed and structured approach was taken, including assembling the appropriate evidence, reframing the basis of the claim, and engaging with the local authority in a more targeted way. The outcome was clear: Full council tax waiver achieved Over £10,000 recovered for the client Ongoing liability removed This is not an uncommon scenario. Local authorities will often apply standard rules without properly considering the specific circumstances of a construction project. Initial refusals are frequent, but they are not always correct. A properly prepared and presented case can materially change the outcome. Situations like this arise regularly on construction projects. Addressing them correctly can make a significant financial difference. Sunil K Radia The Building Guidance Partnership Telephone (020) 8076 3110 WhatsApp +44 7507 705376 www.theBGP.co.uk

Regulatory Compliance Oversights That Could Sink Your Construction Project

by Niket Kapur • 20 March 2026
Most homeowners focus on design, finishes and cost when undertaking a building project. Very few focus on compliance. That is where serious problems arise. This note sets out the key regulatory and risk areas that are frequently overlooked. These are not minor technicalities. They are issues that can expose you to financial loss, uninsured risk and legal liability. 1. Notifying Your Mortgage Lender If your property is subject to a mortgage, your lender has a legal charge over it. That property is their security. Most mortgage terms require you to notify the lender before carrying out structural works Some lenders require formal consent Failure to notify can place you in breach of your mortgage conditions This is often ignored. It should not be. 2. Insurance During Construction Standard household insurance is usually not valid during major renovation or structural works. Many policies specifically exclude properties under construction Continuing without appropriate cover can leave you completely exposed You should: Notify your existing insurer before works commence Arrange specialist renovation insurance where required Ensure cover includes fire, flood, theft, vandalism and public liability Do not assume you are covered. Check. 3. Contractor Insurance Is Not a Substitute Many homeowners assume the contractor’s insurance will protect them. That assumption is dangerous. You must verify: The level of cover is sufficient for the scale of the project The policy includes public liability, employer’s liability and contract works Cover extends to damage to neighbouring properties Liability includes injury to third parties, including trespassers Do not accept a certificate at face value. Review the detail. 4. VAT: Getting It Wrong Is Expensive VAT treatment in construction is complex but critical. New builds may qualify for 0 percent VAT Properties empty for two years or more may qualify for 5 percent VAT on renovation works Evidence of vacancy is essential and must be properly assembled Failure to structure this correctly can cost many thousands of pounds. 5. Council Tax on Uninhabitable Properties Where a property is genuinely uninhabitable, relief or exemption from council tax may be available. In practice: Applications are often rejected at first instance Local authorities do not always guide applicants through the correct route A structured and informed approach is required to secure the correct outcome We regularly assist clients in securing substantial savings, including backdated recoveries where appropriate. 6. Site Safety and Residual Liability Even when a contractor is in possession of the site, the homeowner can still carry risk. If someone is injured on site, including a passer-by or trespasser, liability may arise Simply appointing a contractor does not remove your exposure You should ensure: Proper site security is in place Risk assessments and method statements are being followed Insurance arrangements align with the actual risks on site This is not theoretical. Claims do arise in these circumstances. Final Thought These issues are rarely considered at the outset, yet they carry real consequences. Getting them right early avoids problems later. Contact us today so that we can review your arrangements.  Sunil K Radia The Building Guidance Partnership Telephone (020) 8076 3110 WhatsApp +44 7507 705376 www.theBGP.co.uk