This year’s Chelsea Flower Show is under way with a one-off autumn version of the world-famous event after the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) decided to delay it due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event opened to the public on Tuesday, and anybody who has visited this week or watched highlights on TV may have noticed that Savills has returned to the show as sponsor of award-winning British sculptor David Harber’s stand.

Savills is co-sponsoring David Harber with Cotswold-based garden design studio Nicholsons, who have designed and built the stand.

Already a six-time winner of Chelsea’s Sundries Trophy, David Harber and his team are exhibiting a wide range of artworks from his classic collection. The concept behind the scheme this year focuses on how our relationships with our gardens have changed over the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, from full-time ‘WFG’ (work-from-garden) to ‘the race for space’, a greater desire to have access to the outdoors.

Richard Rees, Savills UK managing director, commented: “Right across our business we’ve seen the appreciation of, and demand for open, green spaces soar over the past 18 months, whether that be in the home, leisure or workplace environment.

“The beautiful planting and garden sculptures used by the team this year provide a calm and tranquil space, whilst also demonstrating the importance of sustainable design, which is now such an imperative for home owners and developers alike.”

The race for space became one of the great global trends of lockdown, according to Crispin Holborow, Country director of the private office at Savills.

He commented: “In the UK, demand for country houses soared and gardens became a real focus for our clients, both in terms of design and functionality.

“While nature still plays a central part to many of the gardens and installations at Chelsea, this year there is a greater focus on the connection between art and the outdoors, which perfectly reflects what David Harber and his work achieves so brilliantly.

“Elsewhere there is a shift towards catering for the urban gardener and ensuring that great design accommodates even the smallest of outside spaces. It is a very great pleasure to be back at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, and to enjoy the show in a different season.”