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Re: [GWL]: Chelsea 2002

Title: Re: [GWL]: Chelsea 2002
I've been reporting the Chelsea Flower Show for many many years, in recent years for the London Evening Standard newspaper, and judging the Chelsea floral exhibits for the last ten or so years. It is a spectacular event, with both floral exhibits in the covered pavilions and sponsored show gardens out of doors. It's a source of a vast wealth of ideas and stories. Here's my suggestions for US-based writers wishing to go.

First of all, contact the Royal Horticultural Society press office. The contact details are:

Jennie Lowe
Press Officer
Royal Horticultural Society
80 Vincent Square
London SW1P 2PE
UK

Tel: +44 20 7821 3046
Fax: +44 20 7233 9502

email: jenniel@rhs.org.uk

website: www.rhs.org.uk

Ask to be put on their mailing list for information on the Show and for a press pass application form; return the form by the date specified. Be aware that while the RHS is keen to publicise the Show around the world, they are a non-profit organisation and do not want to send fat envelopes to the USA, Canada etc only for the material to spend the next year in a file cabinet before being thrown away!

Press passes, as has been said, are difficult to get. The site is small and relatively crowded. Two or three times as many applications are received than can be approved so discuss commissions with your editors and, when filling in the application, lay out the commissions you have received. I can say with some certainty that you are unlikely to get a press pass unless you have a pre-arranged commission. Please don't pester the RHS press office unless you're serious about going or publicising the Show - otherwise it will probably backfire on me!

In general, the Royal Horticultural Society is most keen to publicise the show, and plants and ideas and designers and exhibitors at the show - stories about plants and ideas discovered at the Show but not credited as such as are much less important to them. In the same way, photographic passes are not generally issued for photographers simply wishing to shoot stock rather than pix associated with reporting the Show itself.

The 2002 Show is open to RHS members on May 21 & 22, and to the general public on May 23 & 24. Tickets for these days are ONLY available in advance. Press passes are available for these days (subject to the above caveat) and also for the official Press Day, Monday 20 May and also the previous weekend. The Monday press day is when the new variety launches take place (mostly new roses), with many British celebrities involved in publicity for new plants, sponsored show gardens and so on. Be aware that many of these people, well known in the UK, are unknowns in the US! I know from experience that trying to find a celeb that Americans have even heard of can be almost impossible in some years.

The press tent is, indeed, a tent - although quite a posh one. To clarify the facilities available... as of the 2001 show. There are phones for London only calls, calls elsewhere and to mobiles are blocked; there are phone points for internet access to ISPs with local dial-up numbers; there is no ISDN line or other broadband connection; there are more press handouts from exhibitors than anyone can possibly read; there is free coffee and tea and water; there is very expensive beer, soft drinks and sandwiches; there is a posse of very helpful but overworked press staff; there is no air conditioning. The opening hours of the press tent are shorter than the Show hours on most days. If you have a press pass you can enter the Show before the general opening time of 8am. Otherwise, early is best. I don't think the late afternoon is quiet because the Brits are desperate to go home for tea; it's more that they've been there since 8am and are exhausted and that their coaches back to other parts of the country are leaving before the rush hour! And anyway... there are fewer and fewer Brits visting the show and more from the US & Canada, Japan, Europe and elsewhere.

The 'amateur' gardening section that Sheri mentioned is this: for the first time designs for the smaller show gardens, 5m x 4.5m and smaller, will be considered from anyone, including home gardeners; previously designs were only considered if they were from colleges and gardening clubs and societies Affiliated to the RHS.

I hope this helps anyone considering visiting the Show. You may be interested to know that my wife and I made a website on the 2000 Show, this is still up at www.virtualchelsea.com.

Also, I will be available to be interviewed about the show - and am also open to commissions. I will definitely be there!

Graham Rice




Hello.  Is anyone else going to Chelsea 2002?
 
I am planning to go although I am a bit leary now.  I have never been on a plane and after last week am not sure I want to.
 
I have never been to anything like this so it wll al be very new.  Does anyone have any ideas on specific things I should look for as far as the show goes?
 
I know they are offering a "amateur" gardening area this year which I understand is new.
 
Also, how soon should I start to query editors to see if they are interested in running articles on the events of the show?
 
Thanks!
Sheri
 
 
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