RHS Hampton Court 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.
The Plews View
This year’s show was the first that my daughter has visited with an outside garden of her own to get ideas for. Well, okay, she had a balcony as well as a forest of house plants. But now she has a decent sized exterior space, she and her partner are looking for inspiration for what is a blank canvas.
Obviously her mother is designing the garden for them, but as with any client, in order to make it their garden, I need to transform their likes and needs into a reality that is both beautiful and practical.
And of course, if this isn’t the first Plews blog you’ve read, you’ll know that I’ve recently moved house and garden. To a space which is much bigger, on a hillside and has been unloved for about twenty years. But for all the hard work that has to go in to clear the garden and rediscover elements that should be kept, I now have a vision of what might go where. Instead of the general ‘ooh, l I could have that in my new garden’ when I knew it would be larger but nothing more!
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. A largely pictorial blog, this nearly didn’t happen at all due to issues with my aforesaid garden and house, both needing much attention. But we did get there and have much to share
RHS Hampton Court 2022 – the Gardens
As a garden designer I am very aware of plant, timber and other shortages of materials having an effect 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
RHS Feature Gardens and Installations
These are all walk through gardens. There tend to be a lot more walk throughs here than at RHS Chelsea, not least because there’s more space. It does present us visitors with the opportunity to really get a feel for the show gardens and overall gives a friendlier atmosphere.
River Cottage Market Garden
Planet Friendly Garden
The Vitamin G Garden
Forest Bathing Garden
Iconic Horticultural Hero Garden – Sarah Eberle
RHS Rose Tea Garden – this one is ‘sit down and have a cuppa next to the Festival of Roses’ 😊
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.
Over The Wall Garden
Macmillan Legacy Garden Gift The Future
Connections
The Sunslifetstyle Outdoor Living Garden
The Joy Club Garden
Sunburst
John King Brain Tumour Foundation Garden
The Blue Diamond Group Beautiful Abandonment Garden
Global Impact Gardens
Global Awareness Gardens can be a ‘concept garden’ often with few plants, or a ‘proper garden’ with a message.
A Journey, in Collaboration with Sue Ryder
What Does Not Burn
Get Started Gardens
A new category for 2021, its developed well into this year’s gardens.
The Wooden Spoon Garden
Turfed Out
Lunch Break Garden
Knolling With Daisies, aka #knollingwithdaisies
Not only, but also at RHS Hampton Court 2022 –
RHS Allotment
Festival of Roses
There are two large marquees; the Country Living Marquee and the Floral Marquee. The nursery exhibitors in the Floral Marquee put on wonderful displays and they are judged as well.
And of course, all the trade stands outside too where, along with the items in the two marquees, you can buy just about everything you need for your garden. From seating, to greenhouses large and small, to artisan gin to drink under your new garden umbrella.
RHS Hampton Court 2022 -the Garden Festival in Photos
Obviously not all of the gardens in detail have been included, just the elements that especially stood out for us, focussed as we were on our new gardens.
Health awareness and community feeling were a common thread running through many of the gardens. Recycling and re-using materials was also noticeable, for example, pallets as plant containers and seating were seen not just in the allotment style gardens.
And then there were edible gardens, raised bed gardens, drought resistant planting, cottage garden planting and more. 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.
And finally – RHS Hampton Court 2022 Flower Show Perspectives
What we really wanted was to pay a second visit, the day seems to go so quickly! As well as the gardens and scoping out retail, we had time for a Reiki workshop in a yurt and to enjoy Pimms at lunchtime.
We can highly recommend this as a relaxed yet full garden Festival. And you can take children and dog (yes pet dogs are now allowed) or even a friend. Whilst its over for this year, the end of July sees RHS Tatton Park – which I’ve also enjoyed in previous years.
And 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
For further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.
Of course, if you would like to talk with us about designing your own ‘Hampton Court garden’, please get in touch!
Or if you would like help with learning more about your garden and gardening, why not ask about our bespoke Gardening Lessons, where your classroom is actually your own garden. We can help you learn gardening basics, and also show you how to plan an ornamental border or kitchen garden
Related Gardening articles you may enjoy from our Award Winning Blog
Hampton Court blogs
RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2017
Hampton Court 2018 – RHS Largest Flower Show
RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival 2019
RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival 2021
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What is an Ornamental Edible Garden?
Creating a Mini Cutting Garden
Why Do Bees Like Purple Flowers?
Creating Small Wildlife Habitats in Your Garden
And as it’s Plastic Free July
Plastic Free Gardening Tips
Compostable Packaging – Can You Compost it in the Garden?
Labels Planting Plans Lists
Peat free Compost
