Back to top

NEWS from the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Flowers from the Farm are at the 2022 RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and we’re having a floral blast! The Royal Horticultural Society invited us to stage the RHS Flower School at the show, and our Flowers from the Farm Ambassadors have done them proud. Our talented farmer-florists have transformed an empty marquee into a welcoming floral paradise with spectacular floral hoops, clouds, urns and churns of local, seasonal, scented flowers and an inspirational programme of foam-free floral demonstrations and hands-on workshops.          

FFTF co-chair Meg Edmonds welcomes visitors to the FFTF Flower School at the RHS Hampton Court Festival

FFTF co-chair Meg Edmonds welcomes visitors to the Flower School marquee

Churns brimming with seasonal flowers and foliages marked the entrance to the RHS Flower School and visitors – including the fabulous Arit Anderson of BBC Gardeners’ World and Instagrammers Jess & Nick of The House that Colour Built – were welcomed in by Flowers from the Farm Ambassadors in their stand-out pink tops.

Arit Anderson of BBC Gardener's World meeting with FFTF at the Hampton Court Festival

Arit Anderson sharing a laugh with FFTF at the festival

Inside the marquee, visitors were met by the sight of a statement floral hoop of dried flowers and eucalyptus suspended from the rafters and flanked by clouds of dried flowers. In front of the stage, our team had created a textural meadow design and to the sides, flowers billowed from two magnificent urns.

The stage at the RHS Flower School at Hampton Court bedecked with floral installations created from seasonal British flowers by FFTF members

The stage at the Flower School bedecked with floral installations.

Gracing the RHS Flower School stage on day one were Alice Antcliff of Meadowfolk, who created a stunning tablescape of flowers from her plot and Leigh Chappell of Leigh Chappell Flowers, who effortlessly created dreamy hand-tied bouquet finished with a ribbon of naturally dyed linen.

Alice Antcliff of Meadowfolk demonstrating a seasonal floral tables cape at the RHS Flower School at Hampton Court

Alice Antcliffe creating a seasonal floral tablescape for the Flower School

Each day has seen a different line-up of florists and farmer-florists working with flowers grown by Flowers from the Farm members including Jill Houston of Little Park Flowers, Simon Lycett, Katie Stone of Featherstone’s English Flower Company, Shane Connolly, Bex Partridge of Botanical Tales and Mairead and Athena of Rebel Rebel. Friday will see Marianne Mogendorff and Camila Klich of Wolves Lane Flower Company demonstrate on stage and the return of Leigh Chappell in the evening. On the final day of the show,  Paul and Helen Stickland of Black Shed Flower Farm will be working their floral magic followed by Alice McCabe.

Leigh Chappell demonstrating a hand-tied bouquet at the RHS Flower School at Hampton Court

Leigh Chappell demonstrating a wild and romantic handtied bouquet.

Our Ambassadors invited visitors to make their own floral buttonhole or mini posy corsage tied with beautiful Flowers from the Farm ribbon. It was lovely to see people getting creative with our flowers and proudly wearing them around the showground including our friends in the media.

Members of the public making buttonholes and corsages from seasonal British flowers at the RHS Flower School at Hampton Court

Members of the public making buttonholes and corsages from seasonal British flowers.

We were delighted to hear the words ‘RHS Flower School with Flowers from the Farm’  broadcast across the showground twice a day to announce the start of the floral demonstrations. And it was equally pleasing to read the RHS signage promoting us at the event and at least 12 entries featuring Flowers from the Farm in the show brochure. Our aim is to inspire more people to buy local, seasonal British cut flowers – the most sustainable flowers you can find – and every mention helps.

Signage announcing the collaboration of FFTF with the RHS

Signage promoting the collaboration of FFTF with the RHS.

The RHS Flower School with Flowers from the Farm has been made possible by a brilliant team of flower farmers, who have come together to dress the marquee, talk to visitors, create the designs, supply the flowers and share their knowledge. Flowers from the Farm is not just about flowers, it’s also about friendship and collaboration. Thank you to all the wonderful flower farmers who have contributed to organising and staging the RHS Flower School at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. You are ALL SUPERSTARS!

The FFTF team taking a break at the RHS Flower School at the Hampton Court Festival

The FFTF team taking a well earned break!

The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival runs until Saturday, 9th July.