Eden Project wins two awards at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The team behind Cornwall’s most famous attraction has picked up two awards at one of the country’s most prestigious horticultural events, and a member of the Royal Family stopped by to take a closer look.
The Eden Project Bring Me Sunshine Garden has been awarded a Silver-Gilt medal and the RHS Environmental Innovation Award at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. Silver-Gilt sits between Gold and Silver and is one of the highest accolades handed out by Chelsea judges, who praised both the technical detail of the garden’s sustainable design and its social impact on the local community. The RHS Environmental Innovation Award recognises sustainable design and eco-friendly construction.
The awards followed a day that drew some of the biggest names in the country to the garden.
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Visitors to the garden included Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joanna Lumley, Myleene Klass, Sir Paul Smith, Adjoa Andoh, Bruno Tonioli and Fiona Bruce.
Queen Camilla was particularly interested in the edible planting and sustainable design features. After meeting 23-year-old Ruby from Morecambe, she spoke warmly about the importance of seeing more young people developing a passion for horticulture.
Ruby said the day had been an eye-opener. “A lot of people were surprised because they hadn’t heard about Eden Project Morecambe before. People who knew Morecambe were really excited to hear about the plans for the town, while those who hadn’t said how beautiful it must be,” she said.
“There were so many people coming onto the garden it was a bit overwhelming but hopefully that means that Eden Project Morecambe will be really popular and will bring lots of enjoyment to people.”
A first look at Eden’s next big thing
The garden was created to mark the Eden Project’s 25th anniversary year, and it offers the first glimpse of Eden Project Morecambe, the £100m attraction due to open in 2028 that is set to revitalise the Lancashire coastline.
Its immersive coastal planting, towering trees and theatrical shell-shaped structure caught the attention of celebrities, VIP guests and members of the Royal Family throughout the day.
Designed by Harry Holding and Alex Michaelis and co-created with young adults from Morecambe, the garden combines immersive coastal planting with sustainable materials including mussel shell boundary panels and terraces crafted using cockle shell by-products. At its heart sits a solar-powered outdoor classroom designed to inspire pathways into green careers, horticulture, food growing and creative skills development.
Harry said the project had always had people at its centre. “This garden has always been about people, possibility and hope. To receive a Silver Gilt at RHS Chelsea is incredibly rewarding for everyone involved, especially the young people from Morecambe who helped shape the project from the very beginning,” he said.
“The response continues to be unbelievable. People have genuinely connected with the story of Morecambe and the optimism behind the project.”
What happens to the garden now
Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project, said the team was delighted with the recognition. “We are absolutely thrilled with the awards and incredibly proud of what the team has achieved,” he said.
“More importantly, people have completely embraced the story behind the garden, the creativity, resilience and potential of Morecambe and its young people. Today has shown just how excited people are about Eden Project Morecambe and the future of this special town.”
Once the show wraps up, the garden will not be dismantled. Made possible thanks to match-funding from grant-making charity Project Giving Back, it will relocate permanently to Morecambe, where it will become part of a free public community garden 30 times its current size, along with an outdoor learning space ahead of Eden Project Morecambe opening in 2028.
The garden features tonight on BBC Two as part of the BBC’s Chelsea coverage, where viewers will meet the team and the young co-designers from Morecambe and hear how the garden was inspired by the landscapes and communities of Morecambe Bay.
Voting for the BBC/RHS People’s Choice Award opens tomorrow, giving the public the chance to back the garden. Andy is hoping Cornwall and beyond will get involved. “We’d love people to get behind and vote for the Eden Project Bring Me Sunshine Garden. This garden is all about Morecambe, its people and its future, and every vote helps us share that story with even more people.”
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