©Courtney Louise Photography
A Landmark Moment for Badminton
From 8-12 July, Badminton Estate had the privilege of hosting the RHS Badminton Flower Show, marking the first time an RHS Show has ever been held in Gloucestershire. As a venue, it was a real honour to welcome this exciting new event to the estate and see visitors enjoying a celebration of horticulture against the backdrop of Badminton House and historic parkland and .
Despite the soaring temperatures, there was an incredible atmosphere throughout the week. More than 60,000 visitors came to Badminton to experience spectacular gardens, expert talks, world-class horticulture and a packed programme of entertainment. From the moment the gates opened, there was a genuine sense of excitement as people explored everything the show had to offer.
Feature Gardens That Stole the Show and RHS History
Among the many highlights was the remarkable Julia Rausing Garden, designed by award-winning garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith and commissioned by Hans Rausing. The garden celebrated the life and legacy of philanthropist Julia Rausing while also making RHS history as the largest garden ever exhibited at an RHS Show. Positioned at the head of the lake with views back towards Badminton House, the garden featured a stunning wildflower meadow covering almost 25,000 square metres, creating a beautiful sanctuary that visitors returned to throughout the week.
Another standout feature was The Archers 75th Anniversary Garden, designed by Jo Thompson. Created to celebrate BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, the garden was imagined as a welcoming, productive and sustainable family space inspired by the rhythms of life on a small organic farm. It reflected a recent storyline in which a sewage spill flooded Bridge Farm, highlighting the environmental challenges faced by modern farming communities while offering a hopeful vision of recovery and careful stewardship of the land. One of our favourite moments of the week was seeing estate goats Peanut and Percy make a special appearance alongside Jo Thompson, adding an extra touch of fun and character to the garden.
The Perfume Pavilion, designed by Nicholsons Garden Design, was also a wonderful addition to the show. Celebrating the relationship between , fragrance and the natural world, it featured beautifully scented planting and thoughtful craftsmanship throughout. We were particularly proud that Badminton Estate contributed sustainably sourced ash and Douglas fir timber for key elements of the design. The garden also paid tribute to both the origins of badminton through willow shuttlecocks and to Mary Somerset, the 1st Duchess of Beaufort, whose passion for botany remains an important part of the estate’s horticultural heritage.
©Courtney Louise Photography
Award-Winning Design and New Talent
Across the showground, the standard of the gardens was truly exceptional. The Macmillan Support Garden – The Nascent Shade Garden was a particular success, receiving a Gold Medal, the People’s Choice Award and Best Construction. Designed as an ornamental woodland journey, the garden reflected Macmillan’s mission to close the gap between the best and worst cancer experiences, allowing visitors to experience its message as they walked through the space.
Another garden that caught the attention of both judges and visitors was the Cricket Pavilion Garden, winner of Best Show Garden. Combining the charm of a traditional cricket ground with support for the charity Young at Heart, the garden celebrated community, connection and English sporting heritage. Her garden, Where Grief Grows Quiet, was inspired by her own experience of grief and created in support of Maggie’s cancer centres. It demonstrated the powerful role that garden design can play in promoting wellbeing and reflection.
Meanwhile, the Pocket Planting Gardens provided first-time exhibitors with the opportunity to showcase their creativity at an RHS Show. Located beside the lake, these compact gardens were full of inspiration and innovation, with all twelve designers receiving Silver Medals and two gardens achieving Gold.
©Courtney Louise Photography
Celebrating Community, Craftsmanship and Rural Traditions
The Artisan Gardens brought a wonderful sense of character to the show, celebrating traditional rural crafts and beautiful Cotswolds country garden design. Featuring dry stone walls, woven basketry, beekeeping references and handcrafted structures, these gardens perfectly complemented the countryside setting of Badminton. Henry Pope’s Split Hazel Basketry Garden particularly impressed visitors with its craftsmanship and creativity, winning three awards, while the Ruskin Mill Trust Artisan Woodland Craft Garden won Gold.
The famous Floral Marquee was another highlight, packed with outstanding growers, specialist nurseries and spectacular displays. It was wonderful to see visitors exploring the exhibits and speaking to passionate growers, including several local nurseries showcasing their plants alongside exhibitors from across the country.
We were also delighted by the involvement of local schools and community groups through displays reflecting the theme of “Live, Love, Local”. These exhibits brought colour, creativity and joy to the show while celebrating the importance of community and local connections.
Throughout the week, there were also thoughtful links to the Badminton Horse Trials, including horse sculptures, floral horse jumps and lavender-themed equestrian displays that beautifully connected two important events on the estate’s calendar.
©Courtney Louise Photography
Memorable Guests and Inspiring Conversations
The show welcomed a number of well-known guests, including Jools Holland, Jeremy Clarkson and Lisa Hogan, all of whom spent time exploring the gardens and meeting exhibitors.
The talks programme proved hugely popular, with visitors enjoying inspiring conversations from some of the biggest names in horticulture. Arit Anderson, Adam Frost, Nicki Chapman and Carol Klein all shared their knowledge and experiences, while the Duchess of Beaufort joined Polly Nicholson to discuss sustainable tulip growing.
One particularly memorable talk saw the Duchess of Beaufort in conversation with Dr India Cole, exploring the life of Mary Somerset, the first Duchess of Beaufort, and her remarkable contribution to botany. Visitors also enjoyed demonstrations and advice from specialist growers on the Grow Stage, including Growing Crazy and The Tetbury Flower Company, both familiar faces at Badminton’s Open Garden Days.
A proud moment for the estate came when the Badminton Gardening Team joined the Duchess of Beaufort on stage to share insights into caring for the gardens throughout the year. Speaking to a packed audience, they offered a fascinating look behind the scenes and highlighted the dedication involved in maintaining the gardens throughout the year for visitors to enjoy.
©Courtney Louise Photography
Looking Back on an Unforgettable Week
As the gates closed on the very first RHS Badminton Flower Show, there was a real sense that something special had been achieved. The event brought together world-class horticulture, inspiring design, local communities and thousands of visitors for a memorable week at Badminton Estate.
We would like to thank every exhibitor, designer, volunteer, partner and visitor who helped make the show such a success.
©Courtney Louise Photography
Visit Us Again
If you missed the opportunity to explore the private gardens of Badminton House during the show, we’d love to welcome you back for our Late Summer Open Garden Day on Sunday 6 September, from 10am to 4pm. With spectacular displays of dahlias, beautiful late-summer planting and the chance to meet our gardening team, it’s the perfect opportunity to visit Badminton once again.