As we said in the previous issue, NSS did not visit Chelsea this year, but more of our readers have sent us information about their contributions (which we are happy to share) to the Royal Horticultural Society’s famous flower show.

Over the years the event has become a major showcase of the use of stone in gardens and hard landscaping. At one time there was only a limited amount of natural stone to be seen. But the aesthetic has changed and these days there is hardly a show garden at Chelsea that does not have an element of natural stone hard landscaping.

One of the stone hard landscaping companies that has been instrumental in bringing about that change with its regular contributions to the gardens at Chelsea Flower Show is CED, with three depots in England, one in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.

CED supplied stone to 10 of the show gardens again this year, three of which gained Gold Medals – and there were only six awarded at this year’s Show – and two Silver Gilts. The company also officially supported the Perennial Gardeners Royal Benevolent Society.

Giles Heap, Managing Director at CED Ltd, told NSS: “We are immensely proud and very fortunate to have been, yet again, heavily involved in so many great gardens and designs.

“Our commitment to excellence and our determination to be the best at what we do ensures our clients are never let down or supplied with anything but the best quality, service and largest range of natural stone to choose from in the industry,” said Giles.

Among CED’s winners was The Minds Eye Garden, designed by LDC Design, which won both the Gold Award for Best Fresh Garden and the BBC / People’s Choice Award. CED’s contribution included granite paving, benches, wall blocks with various textured finishes and aggregates.

A number of gardens at Chelsea showed a wide range of CED’s products. Cathedral sandstone, Pearly quartz pebbles and Scottish beach cobbles adorned Kazuyuki Ishihara Togenkyo’s A Paradise on Earth, winner of the Best Artisan Garden category. Crushed white marble embellished London Square, designed by Jo Thompson, which won a Gold in the Fresh Garden category.

From the Moors to the Sea – A Celebration of RHS Britain in Bloom designed by Alan Titchmarsh and Kate Gould had CED gabbro boulders, Golden Amber footpath gravel and Scottish Beach Cobbles and Pebbles

A Garden for First Touch at St Georges, designed by Patrick Collins (a Silver Gilt winner) featured Beach Pebbles, Cotswold Gravel, Yorkstone walling and Cedec Gold footpath gravel.

The Perennial Gardeners Royal Benevolent Society – Celebrating 175 Years garden, designed by Jo Thompson and Fiona Silk (another Silver Gilt winner) had CED-supplied Gabion Cages from Gabion Inspiration, yellow quartz paddlestones, Cornish granite Imperial Setts, Cedagravel and silver grey granite aggregate.

Giles says CED is already being approached regarding collaborations for next year’s Show.