2021 Communities in Bloom

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused the inequalities in our communities to become worse than ever. The lasting impact will be felt for years to come, especially by our younger generations. When communities come together, they can change the world around them for the better.

The Co-op, first time exhibitors at Chelsea Flower Show, commissioned Sallis Chandler to produce an exhibit that reflects their company ethos and some of the ways that they are supporting local communities around the country.

The Co-op wants to help build stronger, more resilient communities by offering fair access to food, fair access to mental well-being services, and fair access to education and employment for young people. The exhibit symbolises the real difference partnerships with like-minded organisations can make: together we can help create a fairer world.

We worked together with the Co-op, their suppliers and flower growers to create the display at Chelsea, a collaborative effort with many different teams working together to produce an amazing result. Flamingo Flowers, MM Flowers and JZ Flowers  provided the flowers and produced the beautiful floral displays, working together as a team with Sallis Chandler and the Co-op.

A pavement stretches around 2 sides of the exhibit and reflects the contemporary experience of urban life for many children and young people. A skateboard ramp at one end, street art and words chalked on the pavement are all rendered in flowers.

Images and messages, reflecting children’s hopes and aspirations for the future, are attached informally to the railings. Drawn by children from Co-op Academy schools.

This surrounds a modern park and playground where bold, bright flowers turn the climbing frame into a floral cascade on a rainbow mound of flowers.

A curved bench and picnic table is ‘laid’ as if for a picnic. Adjacent there is a small ‘allotment’ for growing food.

Photography by Matthew Bruce.