My Favourite Gardens at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2024

Good morning you lovely people. This is just a short little extra for everyone, where I show you a few of my favourite gardens from this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. I’ve put together extended videos for you of the gardens I was lucky enough to be able to walk through with the incredibly talented designers. Hope you like them as much as I did.

The results are in and I can tell you that my least favourite show garden won Best Show Garden, which was The Lion King Anniversary Garden. To me, it felt unfinished and clumsy, but who am I? The judges very much know their stuff and should be respected, but for the spectator, it comes down to how much you actually like it and whether it moves you in some way.

For me, these were the best:

First up is The Money Saving Garden by Jamie Butterworth and my lovely friend Anya Lautenbach in conjunction with the RHS.

“A beautiful garden packed with practical tips and advice on growing plants for free showing how to save money and create a gorgeous, fruitful space on a limited budget, while also demonstrating how nurturing plants is good for your health and wellbeing, and the planet.”

Next is my lovely friend and incredible garden designer Nic Howard’s The Sounds of Adventure Garden for Exodus Adventure Travels. It won Best Construction in the Show Garden category, which it truly deserves. The levitating building was supported by ground screws with absolutely no concrete used. Just a little side note to say that Nic and I are talking about the possibility of some kind of collaboration on my own garden at our barn!

“The garden is designed to engage all senses - this sustainable oasis embodies the company's commitment to sustainable travel. Each plant and feature, supports biodiversity and water management, relating to our interconnectedness with the earth and urging us to tread lightly and cherish our environment.”

The Explore Charleston Garden had me at hello. Designed by Sadie May Stowell for Explore Charleston Brand USA, it truly captures the wild wetland areas of Charleston, steeped in cultural history.

“Manicured hedges & symmetrical patterns, evoke classic English gardens before seamlessly transitioning into the free-flowing beauty of Lowcountry grasses and flora. A homage to traditional pocket gardens, the two distinct styles reflect Charleston's landscapes, a blend of tradition and innovation with beauty in every turn.”

Last, but not least is this absolute beauty designed by Bea Tann for RSK Group. Bea is a graduate landscape architect and I felt her garden was the most impressive of the Get Started Gardens, a new beginner category at Hampton Court. It’s a garden with real soul, which is hard to create, but also one in which I wanted to venture into and stay for a spell.

“The Moss Magic Garden seeks to harness the power of moss, bringing the magic of UK woodlands to an urban garden. Inspired by these ancient landscapes, the design centres on a small space that is contemporary, while celebrating the charm of the natural world.”

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