Grow Hope and Win Tickets to RHS Hampton Court Show

The garden has landed!
Thanks to World Vision for the photo, because mine were rubbish. Credit: Ellis O'Brien

One of my highlights of the Chelsea Flower Show this year was World Vision's Fresh Garden. You may have missed it because it wasn't located with the others.

The design needed a rather large tree for it to work, because its concept was an aid crate crashing into the show, packed full of plants ready to help grow a productive garden. A site amongst the trade stands provided the perfect spot.

And that's not all, this concept will be revisited at Gardeners' World Live from tomorrow, with John Warland's larger show garden denoting the planting of thousands of trees, and culminates in an even bigger finale by him at RHS Hampton Court. I think it's a fresh, bold move to develop the idea over three shows.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1984 Ethiopian famine, the worst in living memory. Thanks to World Vision and the generosity of supporters, the Antsokia Valley which was hardest hit by drought, is now a lush, green oasis. Hope of a future free from hunger has grown into a reality.

The three show gardens neatly illustrate these past 30 years and a good news story for once about Ethiopia; from humanitarian aid through to a region able to stand tall again.


Of course they're also designed to raise awareness of World Vision's work and their latest campaign, Grow Hope. World Vision's work isn't done and this campaign is designed to help extend it in other vulnerable regions of Africa.

This is where you come in, plus there's also the enticing chance for you to win two tickets to see the final garden at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show next month.

All you need to do is visit the competition website and sign up for a Grow Hope pack like the one shown above and below.


For every person who signs up, World Vision will give vulnerable families in Zambia orange maize seeds, rich in Vitamin A, to ensure children can live a life free from the fear of hunger. As well as information about the campaign, there's also some Ethiopian coffee plus a packet of Calendula seeds to say thank you for your support.

These packs are designed to encourage people to reflect on the progress made and spread the word about the help that is still needed – to grow hope and share hope.

So as I see it it's win win all round. You and an Zambian family get seeds to help transform your garden and their lives, World Vision raises awareness, and you might just find yourself bound for RHS Hampton Court Flower Show next month.

Here's the link to the competition website again. Good luck!

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