Peter Dowdall: Chelsea Flower Show designs mark 'seismic shift' in how gardens are built

Ssustainability is taking centre stage at festivals like the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Gold medal winner: The WaterAid Garden, designed by Tom Massey and Je Ahn.

First-time garden designer Giulio Giorgi and garden contractor Landesigns received the inaugural RHS Environmental Innovation Award in recognition of the efforts they have gone to in order to reduce the environmental footprint of the World Child Cancer Nurturing Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The new award, which was open to all those in the show and sanctuary garden categories at this year’s event, was introduced to recognise and celebrate the innovative ways designers and contractors have reduced the environmental impact of the gardens they have created.