Climate resilient gardens to dominate Hampton Court

Gardens focused on water usage will take centre stage at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in July amidst yet another summer of heatwaves.

The return of the El Niño climate phenomenon this year means scientists are expecting temperatures to exceed 1.5C of warming.

Drought tolerant planting schemes and landscaping techniques for managing water use will feature in this year’s designs at Hampton Court, taking place from 4-9 July. They will demonstrate how gardeners can adapt their planting and landscaping practices to help make their own green spaces more climate resilient.

The Wildlife Trusts: Renters’ Retreat garden is aimed at the one in three rented households in the UK, with ideas for how renters can utilise their outside space to help tackle the nature and climate emergency.

The Inghams Working With Nature Garden designed by Joshua Parker and Matthew Butler features resilient planting for wet and dry periods and utilises a shallow creek to collect water runoff and divert it into plant packed sunken swales to reduce reliance on mains water.

Drought tolerant planting schemes also feature in Caroline and Peter Clayton’s Nurturing Nature in the City and Queenie Chan’s The Lunar Garden, whilst Inspired Earth Design has taken inspiration from the varied landscapes of America to include a desert themed area using dry, arid planting in America’s Wild presented by Trailfinders and Visit the USA.

Helena Pettit, RHS director of gardens & shows said: “Climatic extremes are becoming increasingly common in the UK and our green spaces will need to adapt to weather them. The gardens at RHS Hampton Court provide plenty of inspiration for visitors to try at home to help make their own gardens more resilient.”