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Welcome home, gnomes

Summary

20 May 2013

This year will be the first time in its 100-year history that the Chelsea Flower Show is allowing gnomes to be shown. But why this year? And why was there a ban in the first place?

Reporter:

Steve Evans

Report

People either love them or hate them – garden gnomes, those little figurines of men with their pointy, red hats and white beards, with a pipe or a fishing rod, that are used to decorate gardens in some countries. Some people have called the ban on them at the prestigious Chelsea flower show 'snobbery' – or worse still, gnomo-phobia. The organisers, the Royal Horticultural Society, defend themselves by saying the ban on what they describe as "brightly-coloured, mythical creatures" is in force so as not to distract from the flowers on show. But this year the ban is being lifted. So do people support the move?

(People giving their opinions:)

I don't mind garden gnomes. I think they bring a bit of colour. They bring a bit of amusement. And, you know, there's a place for them in the right type of garden.

I think they're very nice and I'm from Denmark and I think there's a tradition in Denmark. We always have them in our gardens.

I'm all for equality and equal opportunity for everybody including gnomes.

The moratorium is to allow in a group of more than 100 celebrity gnomes, or rather, gnomes decorated by celebrities such as Sir Elton John and Dolly Parton. They will be auctioned to raise money for a charity that helps children get involved in gardening.