Fashion versus design

摘要

While Chelsea's show gardens reflect popular trends, the Westonbirtand Chaumont festivals feature cutting-edge design, writes Alys Fowler. When The Guardian sent its theatre critic, Michael Biliington, to this year's Chelsea flower show, it signalledthat entertaining the audience is just as - or even more -important than the flowers. BBC1 broadcast more than 10 hours of coverage over Chelsea week and last year's programming drew more viewers than the FA cup final At the heart of the media coverage is the show gardens. These receive more TV, radio and press attention than any other aspect of the show. Does this mean Chelsea is the place for cutting-edge design? Or is it, as Biliington puts it, that "gardening is the new theatre everywhere I looked,I seemed to be confronted by stage sets".