Relate Unveils ‘Horniculture’ Garden Centre Condom Campaign

Created by Ogilvy UK, the campaign targets the rise of STI’s in later life sex

By Creative Salon

06 May 2022

Relationships charity, Relate unveils a gardening centre campaign that celebrates the nation’s two favourite passions, as PHE research reveals STIs among the over 65’s is at an all-time high. The campaign rolls out nationwide on digital OOH screens and in garden centres during National Gardening Week.

Relate and Ogilvy UK have created a series of vegetable-themed condom packet designs, looking much like vegetable seeds, which will be displayed in garden centres. With a nod to the most popular cheeky vegetable emojis, the range features aubergines, plums, courgettes, onions and avocados – forming a fully sustainable condom collection that can even be planted in a pot to biodegrade. The playful, vegan, tongue-in-cheek illustrated condoms were showcased at the family-run garden centre Finchley Nurseries. By bringing the sexual health debate to an unexpected environment like a garden centre, the campaign will help break down taboos and get people talking about later life sex.

The campaign launches nationwide today across digital Out of Home screens in partnership with Clear Channel UK. The billboards feature close-up shots of suggestive vegetable seed packets under the banner of ‘The Hornicultural Society’.

“The audience we are talking to don’t realise they have this problem. They’re not looking for it. They’re not listening for it. And they are certainly not going into High Street chemists to ask about it. So, partnering with Relate, we decided to crash the number two favourite weekend activity into the number one. We wanted to use the love of gardening to solve the problem of STI’s.” Jules Chalkley, Chief ECD, Ogilvy UK

This is the third instalment in Relate’s ‘Let’s talk the joy of later life sex’ campaign which aims to tackle the stigma around this all-too-often unspoken subject. STI infection has more than doubled in the past ten years among UK adults aged 65 and older. The sustainable limited-edition condoms, supplied by HANX, are available through the Relate website.

“We’re delighted to be working with Ogilvy again to reignite our award-winning ‘Let’s talk the joy of later life sex’ campaign. Sex and intimacy can be important at any age so there mustn’t be a taboo around talking about safe sex in later life. Using the unexpected backdrop of a garden centre and focussing on gardening-themed inuendo helps to grab attention and engage people of all ages, encouraging important conversations and breaking down taboos.” Sarah Milsom, Director of Communications and Engagement at Relate

The campaign is a follow up to the award-winning 2021 campaign ‘Let’s Talk The Joy of Sex’. The original campaign saw renowned British photographer, Rankin, shoot five older couples and one woman in their most intimate settings and explored everything from long-term love to new adventures, tender intimacy to the more risqué. The posters won countless awards and empowered everyone to think and talk about sex and intimacy as they grow older. The follow-up OOH posters and condom seed packets challenge the accepted norms of later life love.

“The simple fact is it that many of us need intimacy now more than ever, and communication is the bedrock of healthy and happy relationships. As a society we are obsessed with love and affection, it can be easy to forget that simple authentic conversation is what defines connection, happiness and intensity.” Jules Chalkley, Chief ECD, Ogilvy UK

Find out more here.