Alan Titchmarsh kicks off the first virtual Chelsea Flower Show

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TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh has kicked off the first virtual Chelsea Flower Show.

This week, royals, celebrities and members of the public were expecting to head to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, to see the gardens and displays at the world famous flower show.

But with the Covid-19 pandemic forcing the show's cancellation for the first time since the Second World War, the Royal Horticultural Society has taken the famous gardening event online.

A visitor looking at Lupins at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018

The move received the royal seal of approval: the Queen said she was pleased the RHS is providing gardening advice and virtual sessions on its website and she hoped it found the “unique event enjoyable and interesting”.

In a message to the society, the Queen said: “I am sure that my grandmother, Queen Mary, who first visited the Chelsea Flower Show in 1916 would be delighted that many people today have an enthusiasm for horticulture and that gardening remains a popular pastime in the United Kingdom.”

Floral display by W&S Lockyer from Purley, Surrey, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2015

As the virtual show begins with a day of content for RHS members on Monday, Alan Titchmarsh, who is vice president of the horticultural organisation, said gardens had a transformative effect.

"Virtual Chelsea" comes during turbulent times for the horticultural industry, as the closure of garden centres at the height of the season prompted warnings over plants being destroyed and nursery businesses put at risk.> But there has also been a boom in gardening during the lockdown, with high levels of interest in gardening advice from the RHS website and online sales soaring, and garden centres are now beginning to reopen.> The public are able to 'visit' from Tuesday with different themes each day ranging from wildlife garden to health and well being, perfect plants and growing in small and indoor spaces.> There will be insights into the gardens and nurseries of top gardeners, Chelsea designers and horticultural specialists.> Visitors will also be able to see potting demonstrations, check out the school gardening club and join lunchtime Q&As with garden experts.> It comes as polling for the RHS suggests a majority of people who have gardens and outdoor spaces value them more than before lockdown and seven in 10 feel they have helped their mental health in recent weeks.> TV gardener Monty Don, who has lived with with depression, said gardens were "desperately important".

Not everyone has access to a garden. The Office for National Statistics has revealed one in eight households in England has had no access to a garden during the coronavirus lockdown.