RHS COP26 Garden

In recognition of the UK hosting the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow in October and November, The RHS COP26 Garden demonstrates how gardens, plants and green spaces can play an integral part in protecting our planet and people and ensure a greener, more resilient future for us all.

The RHS COP26 Garden contains innovative and cutting-edge elements. It also features achievable ideas that we can implement at home and in our communities. The RHS is encouraging everyone to make small changes to their own garden, and collectively those changes could make a big difference to our planet, for example, diverting water run-off into water butts and cultivating plants that attract pollinators, which can be grown from seed.

Four key themes: Decline, Adaptation, Mitigation and Balance are illustrated within different areas of the garden. ‘Decline’ is illustrated by flooding, drought and challenges including pests and diseases. It also shows negative gardening practices, such as paved-over gardens, lack of pollinating plants and chemical use.

‘Adaptation’ demonstrates how we can adapt to best manage the changing climate by becoming more environmentally aware in our gardens. Encouraging planting of drought-tolerant meadow provides a means to cope with hotter, drier summers and fast-drain terrain helps alleviate flash flooding.

The ‘mitigation’ area offers ideas that each of us could try to actively support the environment in our outside spaces. A wildlife garden, pollinators’ meadow, compost area and green front garden are a few of the garden initiatives contained within this space.

Finally, the ‘balance’ area shows how we can work with nature to create a beautiful environmentally-friendly garden. This modern cottage garden area incorporates a diverse range of plants as well as recycled materials.