RHS Hampton Court 2021 enjoys a Thameside setting. Walking from the station to the show takes you past the Hampton Court Palace and lets you peep through golden gates into the restored Privy Garden. It is that historic grandeur combined with the background hum of 21st century traffic that give this, the RHS’s largest flower show, its special ambience.
RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival was renamed in 2019. Previously it had been the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show.
Garden Festival rather than Flower Show helps to differentiate Hampton Court from the Royal Horticultural Society’s other large London show at Chelsea. But more to the point it incorporates the different ethos and atmosphere. Not only is there room for the gardens themselves to spread out but it enables them to offer the opportunity to walk through them. It does make a huge difference to the visitors’ experience when you can get up close.
This year’s show was the first Royal Horticultural Society we’ve been to since 2019 – since the last Hampton Court event as it happens. Obviously this is due to the Covid pandemic and there were checks, masks and so in place for this 2021 event.
What I’d like to do here is to give you a personal, Plews view, of some of the gardens and planting; nursery and trade stands that caught our eyes.
RHS Hampton Court 2021 – the Gardens
As a garden designer I am very aware of plant, timber and other shortages of materials having an affect on my clients’ gardens. And I overhead quite a few conversations from exhibitors on the gardens, explaining to visitors how this had caused issues for them.
How this article is set out: Firstly all the gardens and features are listed in in alphabetical in their categories for a quick reference for you. Then each category, has a gallery of photos plus comments on some of the gardens and features.
But first a few photos to whet your appetite
RHS Feature Gardens and Installations
These are all walk through.
- Cut Flower Garden
- Garden for a Green Future
- Iconic Horticultural Hero Garden
- No Dig Allotment Demonstration Garden
- RHS Allotment – lots of small Community plots
- Rose Tea Garden
Show Gardens
Confusingly perhaps, these gardens include the category ‘show gardens’. This is to distinguish the fact that they may have any theme. The sponsors will have one of these, usually larger gardens.
Get Started Gardens
This is a new category for 2021
- Charlie’s Courtyard
- Punk Rockery
Global Impact Gardens
- Canal and River Trust – Message in a Bottle
- Extinction
- Fashion Footprint Garden
- Global Garden – Game Over?
Lifestyle Gardens
- A Place to Meet Again
- Communication Garden
- Laboratorio S. Rocco – Garden of Solitude
Show Gardens
- Cancer Research UK Legacy Garden
- Down Memory Lane
- Lower Barn Farm: the Bounce Back Garden
- The Ability Garden
- Viking Friluftsliv Garden
Not only, but also at RHS Hampton Court 2021 –
RHS Schools Competition for local schools
Festival of Roses
And of course, all the trade stands and two large marquees. Some of the exhibitors put on wonderful displays and they are judged as well.
RHS Hampton Court 2021– the Garden Festival in Photos
Not all of the gardens in detail – the bits that especially stood out for us. There were lots of purple flowers, and much planting in naturalistic styles. Recycling and re-using materials was noticeable too. For example, pallets as plant containers and seating were seen not just in the allotment style gardens. Health awareness and community feeling were also a common thread running through many of the gardens.
Global Awareness Gardens can be a ‘concept garden’ often with few plants, or a ‘proper garden’ with a message. For example, Extinction with the plane crash of homo sapiens is definitely a concept garden. And throws out quite a shock if approached so the open fuselage is facing you. Whereas the Fashion Footprint garden seems to offer a pleasant seating area and planting with water feature. Until you realise that those 4.500litres of coloured water is what it takes to dye one pair of jeans…
From dustbin lids to garden showers, watering can fountains to chic rills, there were many different ways in which water featured.
And then there were edible gardens, raised bed gardens and cutting gardens. Drought resistant planting, cottage garden planting and chic purple and lime plant combinations. All of which was to encourage us to plant for pollinators whilst entertaining in our garden. Perhaps even feeding guests with our home grown produce.
RHS Hampton Court 2021 – a few more photos of this year’s Garden Festival…
What we really wanted was to pay a second visit, as the Show is on over this weekend too. We don’t have the time to spare, but if you do, there are still some tickets available – we can highly recommend it, with children and dog (yes pet dogs are now allowed) or even just with a friend.
Flower Show Perspectives
If you’d like to view previous years at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show this eBook is a convenient and pleasant way to do so! Click here for RHS Hampton Court
If you would like to talk with us about designing your own ‘Hampton Court garden’ do get in touch.
And for further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below – You could come and find us on Instagram and Facebook too!
Related Gardening articles you may enjoy from our Award Winning Blog
RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2017
Hampton Court 2018 – RHS Largest Flower Show
RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival 2019
What is an Ornamental Edible Garden?
Creating a Mini Cutting Garden
Why Do Bees Like Purple Flowers?
Creating Small Wildlife Habitats in Your Garden
Compostable Packaging – Can You Compost it in the Garden?
Peat free Compost
And lastly, one of my purchases – gardening gloves in Plews colours – how could I resist!
