Appearing at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show is the promised land for any gardener, and Radlett’s Kate Gould has appeared there many times, taking several gold medals in the process.

But this year’s event, which takes place next week, is going to be that little bit extra special – Kate has been invited to design to the RHS – Britain in Bloom garden with none other than Alan Titchmarsh.

And not only that, but the garden represents Alan’s 50 years in horticulture (he began his career at Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture in St Albans in 1968) and also the 50th anniversary of Britain in Bloom, the campaign to promote greener spaces and environmental responsibility in towns, villages and urban communities.

“We’re not going to be judged on the garden, but it’s still quite stressful,” laughs 39-year-old Kate, who inherited her love of blooms from her hobby gardener mother and grandmother, “there’s going to be so much attention on it.

“There aren’t that many women designers at Chelsea – lots of women gardeners – so it was a real honour.”

Kate was asked to design the garden with Alan Titchmarsh back in February and has been working flat out ever since, and has been on the phone to the famous gardener and broadcaster a couple of times a week.

Their garden, called From the Moors to the Sea, will represent how the 300,000 Britain in Bloom volunteers up and down the country literally do help to make Britain bloom. The journey starts in the Yorkshire Dales, where Alan was born, and sweeps down to finish in a seaside scene depicting the Isle of Wight, where Alan now has a home and garden.

Alan Titchmarsh says of Kate: “Kate Gould is one of this country’s most accomplished young garden designers and I am delighted to be working with her on a garden at Chelsea. Her skill, style and refreshing approach to landscaping have been of tremendous value, and our partnership in this venture has demonstrated our joint commitment to artistic flair, originality of concept and quality of finish. I can think of no one I would rather have worked alongside.”

Kate says: “Chelsea is like a big bubble, wars could be breaking out in the outside world but we’d have no idea! You’re on site from about seven in the morning until about nine at night – it’s so intense I’m having trouble remembering to put clothes on in the morning!

“But, as a garden designer, Chelsea is the only time you get to see a garden take shape, day by day, from the absolute ground up, so it’s such an amazing opportunity for us.”

  • Kate Gould and Alan Titchmarsh’s RHS – Britain in Bloom garden is at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Hospital, Chelsea from Tuesday, May 20 to Saturday, May 24. Details: rhs.org.uk, kategouldgardens.com