Marking its final year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the Project Giving Back Garden presents a dramatic, other-worldly landscape never before seen at Chelsea. Designed by acclaimed Provence-based garden designer James Basson of Scape Design, the garden serves as a powerful finale to five years in which Project Giving Back has helped reinvigorate the show while amplifying the work of charities across the UK.

Inspired by the ochre mines of Roussillon in Southern France — where James Basson lives and works — the garden features towering red sandstone cliffs, vividly coloured by natural ochre pigments, set within pine woodland. Beneath them, resilient planting reflects the climate of southern France, offering a glimpse into what UK gardens may look like in the near future. Rich in biodiversity and full of drama, the garden is designed to support a wide range of wildlife and plant life. It also aims to spark conversation about Project Giving Back’s creative approach to philanthropy and the impact it has made on both RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the UK charity sector. Just as Basson is renowned for challenging perceptions of what garden design can be, Project Giving Back has pushed the boundaries of what RHS Chelsea can achieve for charities, bringing their stories to the heart of the event.

Pine trees frame the boundaries, creating a sense of enclosure and inviting visitors to feel immersed within the landscape. Planting is intentionally wild and lightly managed, guided more by restraint than control. Every plant has fought for its place here — from the spring-flowering wild pear (Pyrus pyraster), protected by spiny thorns, to the subtly fragrant common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), which thrives in rocky crevices and is deeply rooted in Provençal identity.
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