Sponsors to prune size of Chelsea Flower Show

This year's Chelsea Flower Show has been downsized after several high-profile companies withdrew their sponsorship, the Evening Standard has learnt.

Chelsea will have almost half as many of its show gardens this year as firms prune spending.

Last year it boasted 22, costing up to £400,000 each to create. There will be just 13 in May, with a number of award-winning designers unable to attract sponsors.

The number of show gardens has also plunged from 25 to 14 at the Royal Horticultural Society's other flagship summer show at Hampton Court Palace.

Chelsea regulars missing this year include Diarmuid Gavin, former host of BBC makeover show Home Front.

Chelsea's longest-serving exhibitor Geoffrey Whiten, who has designed a garden every year since 1975, will also be absent after losing sponsorship from construction firm Brett Landscaping.

Mr Whiten said: "My sponsor pulled out at a late stage and I can't find a replacement given the recession. It came as a bolt from the blue. The RHS gave me extra time because they wanted to preserve my record run, but I couldn't find anyone. It is devastating."

Big-name backers who decided against bank-rolling gardens this year include Marks & Spencer and Neal's Yard.

Lloyds TSB, which last year sponsored designer Trevor Tooth with a six-figure sum, has opted for a more modest display in the Grand Pavilion.

RHS shows director Bob Sweet said: "Last year, we were bursting at the seams with large gardens. But the credit crunch has impacted on many events, and Chelsea is not immune."

But he said a boom in the number of smaller gardens would make up for fewer show gardens: "For every show garden we have lost, there will be three spectacular small gardens."