CREATING A show garden STAT

An idea conjured up on a train led Hannah Reid to exhibit a garden at this year's Hampton Court Flower Show. She explains how her 'train of thought' led to this magnificent creation

- Hannah Reid

I first attended Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival as a visitor in 2022 and was blown away by the show. The RHS allotment area particularly inspired me. So much so that I bought some paper and colouring pens and, on the train home to Newcastle, roughly designed an allotment garden for Hampton Court of my own. In the 12 months that followed – including my application being accepted and the run up to 2023’s show – the design that I initially drew up during that rail journey barely changed.

The garden: Pots to Plots reflects on my own gardening journey and the idea that anyone can grow edible plants; there are no boundaries when gardening. Growing herbs on a windowsill led me to a job growing nutrient-dense microgreens. Experimenting with growing in my small upper-storey flat led me to taking on my own allotment, and then moving to a terraced house resulted in me experimenting with container gardening and growing vegetables in pots. 

THE SHOW GARDEN

TheHampton Court garden was supported by Ouseburn Community Farm, a lovely charity based in the heart of Newcastle, which has given the local community access to nature, space to grow their own food and care for animals since 1976. There is a workplace programme for adults with learning disabilities, difficulties and ASD (autism spectrum disorder). I volunteer there, delivering sessions to get people growing. Students learn practical horticulture and permaculture, planting vegetables, fruit and flowers and developing skills for life by cooking their own produce in their kitchen on site. The design for Hampton Court included reclaimed wood which encourages invertebrate life.