Chelsea Flower Show Seeks New Sponsors as Project Giving Back Concludes Funding

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is preparing to seek new charitable sponsors after Project Giving Back, the philanthropic initiative that has funded 63 show gardens since 2022, announced it will conclude its support after this year’s event. The organization, funded by two anonymous donors, provided crucial support to charities exhibiting at the prestigious horticultural show, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and a decline in corporate sponsorship.

The Impact of Project Giving Back

Established in 2022, Project Giving Back aimed to enable charitable organizations to showcase their perform at the Chelsea Flower Show, offsetting the rising costs associated with garden construction and maintenance. In past years, corporate sponsors like the Daily Telegraph invested significantly in show gardens, with expenditures reaching up to £1m annually, but such funding has diminished since the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic The Guardian.

Over the past five years, Project Giving Back funded 12 gardens in 2022, 15 in 2023 and 2024, and 10 in 2025 RHS. This year’s beneficiaries include Asthma & Lung UK, the Children’s Society, the Eden Project, and Parkinson’s UK The Guardian. The initiative’s gardens have garnered critical acclaim, with Project Giving Back-sponsored designs winning best in show three times, including a rewilding garden in 2022.

A Farewell Garden and Future Plans

Project Giving Back will mark its final year at Chelsea with a farewell garden designed by James Basson of Scape Design. The garden will feature towering red sandstone cliffs and planting suited to the warmer climates of southern France, reflecting potential shifts in UK gardening due to climate change The Guardian. Basson previously won best in show at Chelsea in 2017 with a garden inspired by a Maltese quarry.

Hattie Ghaui, CEO of Project Giving Back, stated the organization intends to share its experiences and create a “blueprint” for future sponsors The Guardian. The charity will be wound down after the 2026 show.

RHS Seeks New Funding

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is actively seeking new charitable funding to fill the void left by Project Giving Back. A spokesperson for the RHS emphasized the show’s long history of attracting sponsors and charities, and its role as a significant fundraising platform The Guardian. Range Rover is the lead sponsor for 2026, taking over from The Newt hotel in Somerset.

Project Giving Back’s Mission

Project Giving Back was founded by two private philanthropists who aimed to support charitable causes impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic RHS. The organization’s goal was to provide a platform for charities to raise awareness and attract donations through the high-profile Chelsea Flower Show Project Giving Back.