'Willpower & sheer idiocy combine in harmony'
The shortlisted products are:
Big Ben Plant Frame, by Haxnicks/ Agriframes, RRP £129.99, www.agriframes.co.uk - plant frame designed for ornamental vegetable growing.
Cloud Controller, by Hozelock, RRP £114, www.hozelock.com - Mobile App, hub and remote tap unit allows you to remotely set, pause and adjust garden watering schedules and keeps you informed about current conditions and changes of weather.
Feature Wall Planter, by MKM Creations, RRP £295, www.mkmcreations.co.uk - wall feature planter with lights included under a hidden edge.
Firecube 16", by Solus Décor UK Ltd, RRP £2,000, www.solusdecor.com - a contemporary concrete fire pit with eco-friendly ethanol burner. Doubles as a table when not in use.
Garden Time GroTray, by Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Ltd, RRP £3.99, www.mr-fothergills.co.uk - a self-contained germination system that needs no re-watering until the seedlings have appeared.
Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown Bust, by Haddonstone Ltd, RRP £399, www.haddonstone.com - to mark Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s tercentenary, Haddonstone commissioned this bust based on Nathaniel Dance’s 1773 portrait. No previous bust exists.
Poc-kit, by Burgon & Ball, RRP £14.95, www.burgonandball.com - designed to hold all the items you would normally put in your trouser/jacket pockets.
Rootator, by Squareroot Planters, RRP £75, www.squarerootplanters.com - a device that enables large trees and plants in containers to be manually turned through 360 degrees for consistent sunlight exposure.
Royal Dutch Hoe - hand model, by Sneeboer, RRP £43.40, www.sneeboer.com - the curved head allows you to weed and aerate the soil in between plants with ease.
The Floating Bench, by Sitting Spiritually Ltd, RRP £3,118.80, www.sittingspiritually.co.uk - an outdoor bench in textured scorched and natural solid oak with the visual twist of a back rest and arms that appear to float.
The Stud Planter, by Oxford Planters Ltd, RRP £460.80, www.oxfordplanters.co.uk - a planter designed and developed with great care and consideration for the environment.
Tree of Life Fire Ellipse, by The Firepit Company, RRP £1,749, www.thefirepitcompany.co.uk - artist Andy Gage has expanded his range of hand crafted fireballs, either fire or LED lit.
RHS Chelsea Product of the Year 2016
TWELVE new gardening products have been shortlisted for the 2016 RHS Chelsea Garden Product of the Year competition.
The winning product will be selected by a team of judges, led by Dragons' Den investor Deborah Meaden, and will be awarded during the show on Tuesday, May 24.
The competition was launched in 2011 to recognise the best new garden products at the show.
An expert judging panel consisting of garden journalists, industry buyers and business entrepreneurs assess the shortlisted products taking into account innovation, visual appeal, functionality, quality, value for money and environmental sustainability.
Selection process:
my opinion
I DON'T know why I'm surprised, but once again the list of nominees reflects the budget of the more affluent gardener.
Only two out of 12 products are what I would call affordable - under £50 (Burgon & Ball, Mr Fothergill's) - sorry, I'm not counting the Royal Dutch Hoe (a hand tool at £43.40).
Some of the more expensive products are worth the investment, I appreciate that.
I know Chelsea is the London Fashion Week of gardening and therefore 'aspirational' but come on.
The judging panel does not seem to include anyone from real life.
Powers that be, stop all the hand-wringing about the lack of kids going into horticulture and promote ingenious stuff the vast majority of the country can actually afford to buy, use, and improve their skills.
Why not split the award into price categories? Say, half under £50, half over? Or have a class system to reflect the reality in gardening (the residuum, working class and everyone the establishment wants to encourage?)
And another thing... the same old names are popping up every year - please can we have a start-up company award?
Thanks for listening. Not.
All product pictures supplied by the RHS.