By Helena Horton
Publication Date: 2026-05-13 05:00:00
With a glass of champagne among the peonies, the Chelsea flower show is generally a friendly and genteel occasion. But this year the scissors have been drawn as gardeners argue over the use of AI in designing the exhibits.
Matt Keightley, an award-winning designer who has designed gardens for the likes of Prince Harry, is using artificial intelligence to design his garden for the prestigious show taking place next week in the gardens of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London.
He’s launching a new app, Spacelift, that can reportedly replicate the work of garden designers and create spaces from scratch.
Keightley said: “We’re used to using technology to design every part of our homes – except our gardens. Spacelift changes that. It gives people a starting point, a plan and the confidence to actually create something – not just imagine it.”
Horticulturists have expressed concern that their work could be automated in this way.
Andrew Duff, Chairman of the Society of Garden and…
