RHS SHOW 2024

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Entry - July 2024

As part of the RHS’ commitment to encouraging fresh talent from different backgrounds, RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival invited budding designers to take their first steps in a judged category at this year’s show. The Resilient Pocket Planting category included 9 entries, each designing a 15 sq.m space outside of the Floral Marquee. The Pocket designers were mentored by Gold medal-winning designer Tom Massey, and supported by Hortus Loci, who supplied the plants for six-medal winning gardens at this year’s Chelsea. They are an entirely peat-free nursery, who grow 80% of the plants they supply.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT RAIN GARDEN

Sketch of the resilient pocket rain garden.

The garden was awarded a Silver Medal, with the judges complimenting the planting design - i.e. the subtle use of colour and generous use of texture; and the form, balance and scale of the exhibit - particularly its 3D profile - as well as the plant associations and horticultural sustainability of the plants chosen for the pocket.

In this rain garden, a series of limestone stepping stones mark a path across the central channel and gently sloping berms – mounds designed to slow and absorb stormwater – filled with plants that can withstand temporary water logging.

Clever contours create different zones to accommodate individual plants’ drainage needs. The multi-stem hornbeam – more tolerant than most trees of water logging – provides a verdant backdrop to pops of yellow, pale pinks and mauves, through to deep burgundies and magentas, softened with golden, buff and straw coloured grasses.

Hornbeam is a folklore symbol of resilience, associated with confidence in our ability to endure and remaining optimistic in the face of adversity. The waterworn limestone stepping stones are typical of the rock formations found on the west coast of Ireland, and signify moving forward to something better, or more resilient.

SPONSORED BY:

The garden was sponsored by the Ice House Hotel. The Ice House is located on the banks of the beautiful River Moy and overlooks one of the largest urban forests in Europe. It was formerly an ice store serving the river's renowned salmon fishery and blends this evocative history with a striking contemporary hotel and spa which is immersed in nature. The Ice House Hotel is a proud member of the Ballina community and an ardent supporter of the arts and creativity. When the garden is rebuilt in Ballina (in Autumn/Winter 2024), it will contribute towards several strong community initiatives including the intention to become Ireland's Greenest Town, and the regeneration efforts of a historic community building at All Hallows Convent.

SUPPORTED BY:

The garden build at Hampton Court Palace is supported by supply of materials, labour and transportation from the following:

New Wood Trees - Multi-stem tree

Lincolnshire Pond Plants - Aquatic/ Marginal plants

Hortus Loci - Grasses and perennials

Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants - Perennials

McMonagle Stone - Stepping stones and other by-products

Aqua Civils - Building labour

RELOCATION PLAN:

The garden will be donated to a charity set up to regenerate a derelict convent in Ballina, Co. Mayo. One of the contributors to its decline was water ingress from downpipes into the building. The garden is part of the building's regeneration and landscaping plans. When brought back in to use, the building will serve a variety of social purposes for the community.