South Africa stole the show at this year’s RHS Chelsea flower show when it not only won a Gold medal with perfect scores from the RHS judges but was awarded “Best exhibit in the Pavilion” as well as the “Best New Design” award. This is unprecedented for South Africa at the Chelsea Flower show. RHS president Keith Weed CBE presented the awards to Leon and his team on the opening day of the London show.
After a four- year hiatus and the sponsor of three decades (1989 – 2019) withdrawing their support, a private sector-led team stepped forward to ensure South Africa’s flora was once again represented at the world’s premier flower show. The team which is spearheaded by Leon Kluge, an acclaimed plantsman and landscape designer with numerous international floral exposition awards to his name, along with Keith Kirsten, conservationist Michael Lutzeyer, and Marinda Nel came together to realize South Africa’s return. A transformative contribution from the Rupert Nature Foundation as well as Grootbos Private Nature Reserve along with numerous contributions from the private sector provided the financial support needed to create the display in London.