Koi to make Pavilion debut at Chelsea Flower Show

Japanese Koi carp will be on display in a show garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Tim Waddington of Quality Nishikigoi broke the news today on Facebook that he was building the pond and supplying the fish for the world’s most famous horticultural show this May.

Tim’s Quality Nishikigoi FB page reads:

“Next project… Chelsea Flower Show 2020.
Making a pond/tank to house 6/7 large koi to display in the Grand Floral Pavilion, this is the first time ever that live animals have been allowed. This is in conjunction with a company who have won 7 consecutive gold medals at Chelsea. The Royal Chelsea Flower show will be taking place from the 18th to the 23rd May. A very exciting project.”

Koi made their debut at Chelsea in 2002, but this is the first time that any live animals have been allowed to be displayed inside the Pavilion itself. Thousands of koi keepers and pond owners watch the TV coverage of Chelsea every year to drool over the Japanese garden and Bonsai displays as they go hand in hand with Koi keeping.

The show as a whole is visited by 150,000 people each year, including celebrities (and the Queen,) and watched on tv by an audience of 3 million.

Koi trips

Tim Waddington is one of the best-known figures in the Koi industry and has taken hundreds of koi keepers to the Yamakoshi Mountains in Japan with koitrips.com 

He has judged koi shows, supplied Grand Champions, and even brought master breeders over to the UK. Seeing koi on display at this year’s Chelsea, and in a garden presented by seven-time gold medal winners will no doubt delight, and bring a welcome publicity boost to the Koi and water gardening industry.

We are wishing Tim and the team the best of luck, we’ll be watching how the build progresses, and make sure you watch the TV coverage or visit the show in person this May.

More info @QNKoi on facebook, and qualitynishikigoi.com