Latest news with #JeAhn
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I'm a Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner and these are the world's most beautiful gardens
Gardener Tom Massey is basking in a golden glow after scooping a gold medal at Chelsea Flower Show this week. The London landscaper, who grew up close to Richmond Park in the capital's south west, scooped his second coveted gold medal in a row after exhibiting at the country's most famous flower show. Alongside co-designer Je Ahn, the pair created the AI-enabled Avanade Intelligent Garden, which has been one of the most talked about horticultural showcases at this year's event. BBC presenter Adam Frost praised the garden for its diversity during a tour, saying: 'He's built in layers - so the trees, the shrubs, and then we're down to the herbaceous plants, but within that, there's a huge amount of edibles.' Tom told MailOnline Travel that he's been inspired by visits to some of the world's most spectacular green spaces - and says green-fingered fans should make time to see beautiful gardens when on holiday. He said: 'Travelling to visit gardens is one of the most enriching ways to connect with a place - offering a window into local culture, climate, and ecology through the lens of landscape design. 'Gardens tell stories about how people live with nature, and each one reveals something unique about its environment and community.' Here, the Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal winner picks his favourite gardens around the world... The High Line, New York City, USA An elevated linear park built on a former freight rail line, the High Line is a global model for regenerative urban space. Designed by James Corner Field Operations with Piet Oudolf's planting, it showcases native and climate-resilient species in a bold, immersive landscape. Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, Netherlands Once a contaminated gasworks site, Westergasfabriek was transformed into a thriving cultural and ecological park. It features innovative water purification systems, wildflower meadows, and sustainable architecture, demonstrating how degraded land can be beautifully restored. The Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark A radical example of sustainable placemaking, Superkilen blends climate-resilient design with social inclusion. Recycled materials, drought-tolerant planting, and community-sourced elements from around the world make it a living celebration of diversity and urban resilience. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London Born from the 2012 Games, this park is a benchmark for ecological urban design. Swales, wetlands, and wild planting manage stormwater naturally, while new woodlands and meadows increase biodiversity and provide long-term public benefit. Gardens by the Bay (Bay East), Singapore Beyond the famous Supertrees, Bay East offers a quieter, more ecologically focused experience. It integrates native wetland planting, stormwater harvesting, and passive cooling design, showing how cities in hot climates can reimagine public space sustainably. Naoshima Island, Japan Not a garden in the conventional sense, but a deeply considered landscape where art, architecture, and nature coexist. Naoshima invites slow, sensory engagement with place, and its sensitive design ethos aligns with the values of sustainable and immersive garden design. Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester A National Trust project transforming a disused railway viaduct into an elevated urban park. Castlefield Viaduct champions nature-led regeneration, using planters filled with native and pollinator-friendly plants while trialling new approaches to green infrastructure in cities. My WaterAid show garden from RHS Chelsea 2024 will be relocated here in Spring 2026 as part of a phase 2 extension.
Daily Tribune
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
Talking trees powered by AI, drought-resistant crops and sweet potatoes sprouting among flowers -- the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show is facing the future with a focus on innovation and climate-change adaptation. There are stunning gardens, 30 competing for top awards, and more than 400 exhibitors showcasing their gardening knowledge and carefully-cultivated plants to the public and champagne-sipping VIPs. King Charles III was to visit Monday with Queen Camilla, with an eye on the show's first ever dog garden, designed by celebrity gardener Monty Don. The head of state was also expected to visit the Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforests garden where the main attraction is a 50-year-old fern that once thrived in the Great Park of Windsor. The garden was 'inspired by the enchanted forests of Arthurian legend' and it 'rekindles the wild and wet woodlands that once swathed vast landscapes along the west coast'. Intelligent Garden In the Intelligent Garden, plant-lovers can truly talk to the trees thanks to artificial intelligence. Pioneering AI sensors called Treetalk have been installed to give updates on the trees' needs in urban environments, whether they are under stress and how to care for them. 'Urban trees filter air pollution, cool the air, support wildlife, and boost community wellbeing. Yet, they face immense challenges,' the RHS said about the garden designed by Tom Massey and architect Je Ahn. About 50 percent of urban trees do not survive beyond 10 years and up to 30 percent die in their first year, it added. 'The use of AI is not going to replace a human being, our intuition and our labour. It's still the core and heart of this garden,' said Je Ahn. But data could give 'a clearer picture of what's going on around us'. 'Challenging conditions' The plants on display in the Garden of the Future 'have the ability to survive in a range of challenging conditions,' the designers told the RHS. Growing among the more common hawthorn bushes, are sweet potatoes which have 'fantastic nutritional value and are drought resistant,' sorghum a popular cereal from Africa, rock roses and chickpeas that are 'more resilient to warmer climates', they said. Those are all crops that 'can grow right here in the UK', said Ana Maria Loboguerrero, the Gates Foundation's director of adaptive and equitable food systems. It is the first time the foundation has sponsored a garden at the show. Designers Matthew Butler and Josh Parker said the show was a chance to reflect on 'the future of crops, food and livelihoods in the face of climate change'. The theme of sustainability is echoed across the show, including in the Seawilding garden inspired by the landscape around Loch Craignish, on the west coast of Scotland. It includes a saltwater pool, planted with seagrass -- the first time that it has ever been displayed at the show and the UK's 'only native flowering plant in the ocean,' the RHS says. Designer Ryan McMahon said he 'always assumed seagrass grew in warmer climates' so was intrigued when he discovered it in Scotland. There is also a garden called 'Songbird Survival' amid reports bird numbers have fallen in UK gardens by 50 percent in the past two generations. Or visitors can discover the 'Making Life Better with Bees' garden, with insects key to pollination. In 2021, the RHS it said it would ban the use of peat, a natural captor of CO2 one of the main greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, from the end of 2025. But growers will be able until 2028 to continue using peat, an organic material made over thousands of years from decaying vegetation in the UK's dwindling wetlands. The RHS decided to push back the peat ban for growers 'due to a complex horticultural supply chain where 60 percent of young plants, many grown in peat, are sourced from abroad'.
Japan Today
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
Floral artist Ricky Paul looks at the Chelsea Punk, a mohican made from pampas grass By Brigitte DUSSEAU Talking trees powered by AI, drought-resistant crops and sweet potatoes sprouting among flowers -- the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show is facing the future with a focus on innovation and climate-change adaptation. Over five days starting Tuesday, more than 140,000 visitors are expected to view what the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) bills as "the pinnacle of horticultural excellence". There are stunning gardens, 30 competing for top awards, and more than 400 exhibitors showcasing their gardening knowledge and carefully-cultivated plants to the public and champagne-sipping VIPs. King Charles III was to visit Monday with Queen Camilla, with an eye on the show's first ever dog garden, designed by celebrity gardener Monty Don. The head of state was also expected to visit the Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforests garden where the main attraction is a 50-year-old fern that once thrived in the Great Park of Windsor. The garden was "inspired by the enchanted forests of Arthurian legend" and it "rekindles the wild and wet woodlands that once swathed vast landscapes along the west coast". In the Intelligent Garden, plant-lovers can truly talk to the trees thanks to artificial intelligence. Pioneering AI sensors called Treetalk have been installed to give updates on the trees' needs in urban environments, whether they are under stress and how to care for them. "Urban trees filter air pollution, cool the air, support wildlife, and boost community wellbeing. Yet, they face immense challenges," the RHS said about the garden designed by Tom Massey and architect Je Ahn. About 50 percent of urban trees do not survive beyond 10 years and up to 30 percent die in their first year, it added. "The use of AI is not going to replace a human being, our intuition and our labour. It's still the core and heart of this garden," said Je Ahn. But data could give "a clearer picture of what's going on around us". The plants on display in the Garden of the Future "have the ability to survive in a range of challenging conditions," the designers told the RHS. Growing among the more common hawthorn bushes, are sweet potatoes which have "fantastic nutritional value and are drought resistant," sorghum a popular cereal from Africa, rock roses and chickpeas that are "more resilient to warmer climates", they said. Those are all crops that "can grow right here in the UK", said Ana Maria Loboguerrero, the Gates Foundation's director of adaptive and equitable food systems. It is the first time the foundation has sponsored a garden at the show. Designers Matthew Butler and Josh Parker said the show was a chance to reflect on "the future of crops, food and livelihoods in the face of climate change". The theme of sustainability is echoed across the show, including in the Seawilding garden inspired by the landscape around Loch Craignish, on the west coast of Scotland. It includes a saltwater pool, planted with seagrass -- the first time that it has ever been displayed at the show and the UK's "only native flowering plant in the ocean," the RHS says. Designer Ryan McMahon said he "always assumed seagrass grew in warmer climates" so was intrigued when he discovered it in Scotland. There is also a garden called "Songbird Survival" amid reports bird numbers have fallen in UK gardens by 50 percent in the past two generations. Or visitors can discover the "Making Life Better with Bees" garden, with insects key to pollination. The annual horticultural show is organised in the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital, and has long championed environmental issues. In 2021, the RHS it said it would ban the use of peat, a natural captor of CO2 one of the main greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, from the end of 2025. But growers will be able until 2028 to continue using peat, an organic material made over thousands of years from decaying vegetation in the UK's dwindling wetlands. The RHS decided to push back the peat ban for growers "due to a complex horticultural supply chain where 60 percent of young plants, many grown in peat, are sourced from abroad". © 2025 AFP
Observer
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
Talking trees powered by AI, drought-resistant crops and sweet potatoes sprouting among flowers — the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show is facing the future with a focus on innovation and climate-change adaptation. Over five days starting on Tuesday, more than 140,000 visitors are expected to view what the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) bills as 'the pinnacle of horticultural excellence'. There are stunning gardens, 30 competing for top awards, and more than 400 exhibitors showcasing their gardening knowledge and carefully-cultivated plants to the public and champagne-sipping VIPs. King Charles III was to visit with Queen Camilla, with an eye on the show's first ever dog garden, designed by celebrity gardener Monty Don. The head of state was also expected to visit the Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforests garden where the main attraction is a 50-year-old fern that once thrived in the Great Park of Windsor. The garden was 'inspired by the enchanted forests of Arthurian legend' and it 'rekindles the wild and wet woodlands that once swathed vast landscapes along the west coast'. In the Intelligent Garden, plant-lovers can truly talk to the trees thanks to artificial intelligence. Pioneering AI sensors called Treetalk have been installed to give updates on the trees' needs in urban environments, whether they are under stress and how to care for them. 'Urban trees filter air pollution, cool the air, support wildlife and boost community well-being. Yet, they face immense challenges,' the RHS said about the garden designed by Tom Massey and architect Je Ahn. About 50 per cent of urban trees do not survive beyond 10 years and up to 30 per cent die in their first year, it added. 'The use of AI is not going to replace a human being, our intuition and our labour. It's still the core and heart of this garden,' said Je Ahn. But data could give 'a clearer picture of what's going on around us'. The plants on display in the Garden of the Future 'have the ability to survive in a range of challenging conditions,' the designers told the RHS. Growing among the more common hawthorn bushes, are sweet potatoes which have 'fantastic nutritional value and are drought resistant,' sorghum a popular cereal from Africa, rock roses and chickpeas that are 'more resilient to warmer climates', they said. Those are all crops that 'can grow right here in the UK', said Ana Maria Loboguerrero, the Gates Foundation's director of adaptive and equitable food systems. It is the first time the foundation has sponsored a garden at the show. Designers Matthew Butler and Josh Parker said the show was a chance to reflect on 'the future of crops, food and livelihoods in the face of climate change'. The theme of sustainability is echoed across the show, including in the Seawilding garden inspired by the landscape around Loch Craignish, on the west coast of Scotland. It includes a saltwater pool, planted with seagrass — the first time that it has ever been displayed at the show and the UK's 'only native flowering plant in the ocean,' the RHS says. Designer Ryan McMahon said he 'always assumed seagrass grew in warmer climates' so was intrigued when he discovered it in Scotland. There is also a garden called 'Songbird Survival' amid reports bird numbers have fallen in UK gardens by 50 per cent in the past two generations. Or visitors can discover the 'Making Life Better with Bees' garden, with insects key to pollination. The annual horticultural show is organised in the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital, and has long championed environmental issues. In 2021, the RHS it said it would ban the use of peat, a natural captor of CO2 one of the main greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, from the end of 2025. But growers will be able until 2028 to continue using peat, an organic material made over thousands of years from decaying vegetation in the UK's dwindling wetlands. The RHS decided to push back the peat ban for growers 'due to a complex horticultural supply chain where 60 percent of young plants, many grown in peat, are sourced from abroad'.
Int'l Business Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
AI Talking Trees Feature At Chelsea Flower Show
Talking trees powered by AI, drought-resistant crops and sweet potatoes sprouting among flowers -- the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show is facing the future with a focus on innovation and climate-change adaptation. Over five days starting Tuesday, more than 140,000 visitors are expected to view what the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) bills as "the pinnacle of horticultural excellence". There are stunning gardens, 30 competing for top awards, and more than 400 exhibitors showcasing their gardening knowledge and carefully-cultivated plants to the public and champagne-sipping VIPs. King Charles III was to visit Monday with Queen Camilla, with an eye on the show's first ever dog garden, designed by celebrity gardener Monty Don. The head of state was also expected to visit the Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforests garden where the main attraction is a 50-year-old fern that once thrived in the Great Park of Windsor. The garden was "inspired by the enchanted forests of Arthurian legend" and it "rekindles the wild and wet woodlands that once swathed vast landscapes along the west coast". In the Intelligent Garden, plant-lovers can truly talk to the trees thanks to artificial intelligence. Pioneering AI sensors called Treetalk have been installed to give updates on the trees' needs in urban environments, whether they are under stress and how to care for them. "Urban trees filter air pollution, cool the air, support wildlife, and boost community wellbeing. Yet, they face immense challenges," the RHS said about the garden designed by Tom Massey and architect Je Ahn. About 50 percent of urban trees do not survive beyond 10 years and up to 30 percent die in their first year, it added. "The use of AI is not going to replace a human being, our intuition and our labour. It's still the core and heart of this garden," said Je Ahn. But data could give "a clearer picture of what's going on around us". The plants on display in the Garden of the Future "have the ability to survive in a range of challenging conditions," the designers told the RHS. Growing among the more common hawthorn bushes, are sweet potatoes which have "fantastic nutritional value and are drought resistant," sorghum a popular cereal from Africa, rock roses and chickpeas that are "more resilient to warmer climates", they said. Those are all crops that "can grow right here in the UK", said Ana Maria Loboguerrero, the Gates Foundation's director of adaptive and equitable food systems. It is the first time the foundation has sponsored a garden at the show. Designers Matthew Butler and Josh Parker said the show was a chance to reflect on "the future of crops, food and livelihoods in the face of climate change". The theme of sustainability is echoed across the show, including in the Seawilding garden inspired by the landscape around Loch Craignish, on the west coast of Scotland. It includes a saltwater pool, planted with seagrass -- the first time that it has ever been displayed at the show and the UK's "only native flowering plant in the ocean," the RHS says. Designer Ryan McMahon said he "always assumed seagrass grew in warmer climates" so was intrigued when he discovered it in Scotland. There is also a garden called "Songbird Survival" amid reports bird numbers have fallen in UK gardens by 50 percent in the past two generations. Or visitors can discover the "Making Life Better with Bees" garden, with insects key to pollination. The annual horticultural show is organised in the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital, and has long championed environmental issues. In 2021, the RHS it said it would ban the use of peat, a natural captor of CO2 one of the main greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, from the end of 2025. But growers will be able until 2028 to continue using peat, an organic material made over thousands of years from decaying vegetation in the UK's dwindling wetlands. The RHS decided to push back the peat ban for growers "due to a complex horticultural supply chain where 60 percent of young plants, many grown in peat, are sourced from abroad". Gardener Monty Don poses with his dog Ned, a golden retriever, in his dog-friendly garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower show AFP A visitor looks at a display of daffodils during the preview day at the RHS Chelsea Flower show AFP A sensor is pictured on a tree in the Avanade Intelligent Garden to track tree health and soil conditions AFP A Chelsea Pensioner looks at a display of roses at the RHS Chelsea Flower show in London AFP
