Must-sees at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
Taking place from July 4th-9th, the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is a treat for anyone with green fingers. Horticultural excellence can be experienced at Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII's most famous residence. The show features workshops and demonstrations, spectacular Show Gardens, Floral Marquees, top gardening advice, and allotment experiences.
We take a look at the best features at the show this year.
Show Gardens
TV personality Carol Klein was recently announced as the RHS Iconic Horticultural Hero 2023 which will see her create a garden at this year’s show. The garden will be divided into six habitats - wetlands, woodlands, hedgerows, meadows, moors, mountains, and seaside - with plants which flourish in each.
We are also looking forward to Plastic Fantastic designed by Hana Leonard which is inspired by the excessive use of plastic packaging in the horticultural industry and will be used to showcase plants in a playful and beautiful way not seen before.
The Cancer Research UK Legacy Garden designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes is a tranquil woodland garden celebrating Wills' hope and optimism, encouraging reflection, conversation, and connection, whilst the Traditional Townhouse Garden designed by Lucy Taylor explores wildlife gardening in an urban setting.
Get Started Gardens
This is a new feature at Hampton Court and aims to help beginners perfect that are new to gardening.
The Landform Mental Wealth Garden designed by Nicola Hale shows visitors how to boost well-being by using scent and beautiful planting whilst Nurturing Nature in the City designed by Caroline Clayton and Peter Clayton of Viriditas Garden Design Studio takes inspiration from inner city green developments along disused urban railways such as the High Line in New York.
Grow Your Own
The prestigious RHS show will boast a Community Allotment area which will encourage people to give growing their own fruit and vegetables a try. British Garden Centres is proud to contribute to the Trakol: Pots to Plots by Ouseburn Farm garden, which is a collaboration with Ouseburn Community Farm, based in Byker which is an important hub in the city of Newcastle that provides a place for the local residents to care for nature by growing food and tending to animals.
Festival of Roses
You cannot afford to miss this beautifully scented marquee of rose growers including Peter Beales, Harkness, Fryers and Eastcroft Roses and David Austin Roses. The display will include many climbing and rambling roses, as well as new hybrid teas and floribundas.
RHS Flower School
Featuring floristry workshops, mini flower farms, and celebrity demonstrations, this showcases the best of British blooms. Throughout the festival, the NAFAS Flower Hut will host live demonstrations by Simon Lycett and Shane Connolly and the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies.
Shopping
Hampton Court is a shopper’s paradise with hundreds of stalls on site. The Plant Zone is a must for gardeners where you can purchase an array of plants for your outdoor spaces, ranging from drought-tolerant perennials to alpines and hostas to summer flowering bulbs.
Hampton is also home to the Country Living Shopping Pavilion which will feature beautiful homewares and gifts from hand-picked artisan makers and small businesses.
