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Phil Tremayne APL

This year marks the 30th anniversary of The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL). It is also the year that, for the first time, a British Standard has been launched specifically for Domestic Landscaping. To celebrate these two milestone events, APL members have built an educational walkthrough garden that takes visitors on a journey through lush planting and inspirational features, encompassing the whole process of Design and Build. Full of invaluable information, What lies before, What lies beneath explains the importance of using professional landscapers and designers if you are seeking to have work done in your garden.

APL members are at hand for the duration of the Festival – visit their design clinic for advice, guidance, practical pointers and two live Q&A sessions at 11am and 3pm each day.

RHS New Shoots

New Shoots, the RHS initiative to increase access to horticultural careers, is hosting a Green Careers Hub. Over the week, the New Shoots team will be joined by regional careers and training providers within the green sector, to advise how anyone with a passion for plants, nature and the outdoors can access relevant careers and training. Come and speak to the New Shoots team and their partner organisations to find out how you can get involved in a fulfilling and engaging lifelong adventure with plants. 

Sophie Knittel and Natasha Lloyd

As you wander around the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, your eyes will doubtless be drawn to the container displays featuring unusual plants that are dotted around the site. These striking arrangements have been created by awardwinning designers and . Each planter features a so-called wonder plant – that is, a rare, newly introduced or unusually beautiful cultivar – or off-thewall planting combination. Expect to see a site-specific mix of sun-loving varieties and shade-tolerant cultivars in a range of horticultural styles, from ethereal florals to striking exotica. Discreet labels within the planters give full plant information, so visitors can learn about the wonder plants and recreate their own designs at home. 

by Kingston Forest School

Keep the kids entertained and inspired with Kingston Forest School, a group that provides sessions for children and their families to connect and learn in nature in Southwest London. At this year’s Festival, they’re presenting a range of hands-on nature-based learning activities for kids and adults. From minibeasts to den building, and foraging to exploring plant life, all activities let you experience nature at close quarters and connect with the natural world.

Capel Manor College

This installation is a collaborative effort from key departments within Capel Manor College, including horticulture, garden design, floristry, floriculture and the newly introduced creative arts. Various forms and textures, primarily using land-based bio products, complemented by a selection of foliage-type planting, feature in the display. There are 3D urns utilising eco-floristry techniques, eco-printing, land art and other artistic disciplines that highlight the integration of environmental consciousness into the educational curriculum, emphasising the importance of eco-friendly practices and creative approaches to learning.

The Community Brain

The Community Brain, a locally based not-for-profit, presents a display inspired by sustainable fashion. This towering willow sculpture celebrates 60 years of award-winning designs from Kingston School of Art – an institution whose alumni and students have had an astonishing creative impact on the global stage. Celebrating the past and present, this exhibit also explores the future by questioning the environmental impact of the fashion industry. By creating a display using primarily natural materials, this exhibit represents the abundance of young fashion designers who are engaged with the principles and practices of reuse, upcycling and using less-harmful fabrics.