Join us on a journey of colour – from plants to pigments
Sparsholt College will present Washday Hues at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, exploring the fascinating relationship between natural dyes and textiles.
Sparsholt College is excited to announce that we will be showcasing Washday Hues at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show (19-23 May 2026). The garden will delve into the relationship between fabrics and plants, demonstrating the wide range of beautiful and vibrant colours that can be achieved when using natural plant-based dyes.
The 2026 garden is designed by Sparsholt’s multiple-medal-winning team including several full-time and part-time mature horticulture learners. The exhibit will be staged at GPD051, inside the Great Pavilion, and will explore a variety of plants, many of which can be grown in the UK climate, that can be used as natural dyes and scents.
Lucy Lewis, Horticulture Lecturer at Sparsholt College and designer of Washday Hues said:
“This year’s garden is exciting, we have had so much interest already and it turns out loads of people have a curiosity for these old crafts. I’m excited to see the things that the students and I will learn along the way.”
“This year’s theme is looking at the relationship between plants in our garden and how they dye fabrics with a little bit of a laundry theme as well. We’re looking at plants that people can grow very happily in the UK climate and that produce wonderful colours when processed properly.”
The design aims to lead visitors through the steps involved in taking colour from plant to pigment, flower to fabric and garden to garment. The eye-catching washing machine signifies the first step of the dyeing process and the garden itself will feature many plants which can be used to produce dyes.
ELKA, a weaving and natural dye studio based in Hampshire, have been working with Sparsholt College to share their specialist knowledge on the topic of natural, plant-based dyeing. Part of their support included facilitating a natural dyeing workshop for the learners involved in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show project.
Ellie Fisher, owner of ELKA, stated “During our workshop, the students learnt how to practically naturally dye with plants, the differences between animal and cellulose fibres, and the different plants that they could use in the UK to naturally dye their own textiles.”
“It’s lovely seeing the reaction from the students because it is like magic really, you can take a plant that looks one way and get an incredibly vivid colour from it and one of the things that I love the most about the naturally dyed colours are the way they all tone beautifully together”
“I can’t wait to see everything and mostly to see how the garden is put together and the finished display”
Sparsholt College has a long history of success at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and each year students are at the heart of the project. From full-time further education courses to part-time horticultural courses for adults, Sparsholt College has a wonderful reputation for education in horticulture. For many learners this is their first experience of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and the project allows them to fully immerse themselves in the process from start to finish, gaining key skills to support their careers.
Cam, T Level Ornamental Horticulture learner and member of the 2026 RHS Garden Plant Team at Sparsholt College, said:
“I am excited and there are lots of opportunities involved with this experience. I have learnt a lot already, particularly in the dye workshop and it’s nice to know all the different plant materials that can be used to dye fabrics.”
“Last year I was lucky enough to go to the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show to see all the gardens. We went on lots of tours around the various gardens and spoke to some amazing people who were all inspirational. Being part of the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show team is going to open lots of doors for me”