The new RHS Badminton Flower Show

There is a new kid on the flower show block, RHS Badminton Flower Show.  This year there is no show at Hampton Court and instead I headed west to Badminton.

This is where I confess that Badminton is not where I thought it was.  For some reason I had it located somewhere in Buckinghamshire, or Berkshire or maybe south Bedfordshire.  It is is none of these places, it is in Gloucestershire.  I decided I would travel down the night before so I could get there bright and early in the morning.  As we were in another heatwave (number three of the year so far....) this felt like a good idea to try and get away before the heat of the day really kicked in.

As I was lucky to be granted a press pass I arrived before the show officially opened.  The signage to get there was quite good.  The car parking was, as you would expect, vast.  As I got out my car the friendly waver and pointer who was directing people to where they should park said two things to me: you are in row 17 and drop a pin on google maps to locate your car.  Fabulous advice.

I decided to 'do' the gardens and features first before the paying public arrived and then I would wander around the shopping.   Map clutched in already sweaty hand off I went.  Firstly I found the houseplant studios which were, I thought,  a little pushed out of the way but well worth seeking out.

On I went towards the lake and the Pocket Planting.  These were small but beautifully formed gardens, less formally shaped than the 'borders' you get at other shows, which I rather liked.  They felt more amorphus and natural and also rather nice to be by the cooling water.  I say cooling, it was already starting to feel quite warm.

I was very pleased to find this horse sculpture.  I know very little about Badminton other than it is the home of the famous horse trials, so it felt right that horses should be visible.

I then found myself in the Julia Rausing Feature Garden, the largest garden ever at an RHS show.  It was large and you could be forgiven for not realising you were walking through a show feature, it has a feeling of just being there; which is a sign of seriously good design.

The garden was designed by Tom Stuart Smith and was commissioned by the late Julie Rausing's husband.  She sadly died in 2024 and prior to this had, with her husband, been a great philanthropist.

It was, without doubt, my favourite part of the show.

but I could not stay admiring the planting and the overall effect all day.  I had to move on.

I found another horse - huzzah!  

This is the Macmillan Cancer Support: The Nascent Shade Garden designed by Elle Arnett.  I liked this garden a lot.  The white posts added good interest and structure and I loved the planting.

This is the Oregon: The Productive Garden designed by Sadie May Stowell.  I loved this garden.  I want to say it looked like a slice of Oregon but in truth I have never been there so it may or may not do so - but it felt like it did and that was good enough for me.

This is 'Finding Hope' designed by Rick Ford and Pip Probert.  I was drawn to the rusty moon gate, I would love to be able to fit a moon gate into my garden.  I think about it but currently the garden is telling me this is a stretch too far.  I loved the complementary colours of the planting, it was quite special.

and then on to the Cricket Pavilion Garden designed by Stephen Moody.  On a hot summer's day this felt just right. I am sure that the red cricket balls were placed exactly to match the red achillea, and if they weren't I would absolutely think it reasonable that they say they were.  It was a good touch.

This is one of the Young Designer of the Year gardens: the Blue Diamond Garden Centres: Where Grief Grows Quiet designed by Sophie Leo Garden Design.  I really liked it.

Then on I went to the Archers 75th Anniversary Garden designed by Jo Thompson.

Jo suddenly appeared to do a photo call with two pygmy goats.  The goats confirmed their appreciation of the garden by eating it.  Well, what else is a goat supposed to do.

This tractor was not part of the garden, but looked like it could have been.

It was then time to head into the Floral Marquee, always a highlight of RHS shows.

I love admiring the displays,

the time and care that goes into creating them should not be underestimated.

and I found another horse!

Then it was time to wander the shopping and I did nearly buy something but sadly failed in my attempt.  Let's just say it was heavy and I couldn't carry it to my car and they didn't deliver.  This was fate telling me not to buy it.  Shame though...

By now the heat was really building up.  There was not a lot of seating to be found as I wandered and not a lot of shade.  I made my way to the central area to find a seat and have a cold drink and a think.  I decided to do another circuit and then call it a day.

I really enjoyed by visit.  The show was more compact than RHS Hampton Court,  I always missed things at Hampton Court, even if I was looking for them.  It being a heatwave did not help me with the show, I was hot, sweaty and tired, not a pleasant mix.  So I headed back to my car and soon realised that I had completely lost my bearings.  I worked out where the gate was I had entered and then made my way back in the hopefully right direction.  I used my pindrop on Google Maps and it took me straight back to my car.  I was glad to find it even though when I opened the door it was like an oven in there.

Because I arrived early I was leaving earlier then most people, finding the exit signs turned out to be a bit of a challenge but I managed.  Then I was driving down the narrow lanes against the flow of slow traffic into the show.  That felt a bit of a challenge and I always wonder about the locals who live close to such events.  It must be frustrating for them.   I could see there was queuing for a good couple of miles and heard later than there were some frustrations about the traffic.  I remember the horror of driving to the first RHS Chatsworth Show, that was not a joyous moment.  New shows always have teething issues and even established ones can cause travel delays especially the closer you get.  It is sort of to be expected but the heatwave exacerbated the situation.  I wended my way, air con on full blast, home.

Would I visit again - absolutely.  I thought it a good venue, it had good gardening features, good shopping; I thought it a success.  It was easier to get to than Hampton Court for me even though probably equidistant in mileage.  I had a good day.

Take care and be kind.

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