America's Wild Garden wins at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

‘America’s Wild’ garden wins the treble at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival for impressive showcase of U.S. landscapes: Best in Show (The Tudor Rose Award), Gold Medal and Best Construction.

Trailfinders and Visit The USA have won the treble at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival for America’s Wild show garden, transporting visitors to the much-loved North American landscapes of the desert, forest and prairie. America’s Wild swept the awards winning top place in all three categories: Best in Show (The Tudor Rose Award), Gold Medal and Best Construction.

Judges applauded the female designer trio from Inspired Earth Design – Jude Yeo, Emily Grayshaw and Imogen Perreau Callf – for their detailed and authentic representation of the three distinct U.S. vistas. They especially praised the garden’s dramatic centre stage feature; an immense waterfall that flows through the garden harmonising the contrasting landscapes, and bringing the planting to life.

From ‘Prickly Pear’ cacti and Agave planting set against a natural sandstone backdrop evocative of the desert landscapes of Arizona, California and Nevada; to the iconic Populus (Quaking Aspen) and Liquidambar (Sweetgum) American trees at home in the forests of Oregon, Colorado, and Utah. The garden showcases a mix of perennial planting, including herbaceous grasses, flowering Echinacea purpurea and Liatris spicata, known to America’s prairielands in Texas, Oklahoma and South Carolina; America’s Wild is an evocative showcase of the native planting that defines America’s topography. 

Chris Thompson, CEO and president at Brand USA said: “We are beyond thrilled that America’s Wild has won all three prestigious awards at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, among fierce competition. Our garden captures the diversity of landscapes that shape the USA and is an immersive sensory journey that we hope will inspire visitors to plan their own adventure across America’s great outdoors.”

Sir Michael Gooley CBE, Founder and Executive Chairman of Trailfinders said: “We are delighted that America’s Wild Garden has been awarded the best of the best by bringing all three medals home, so well done to the team involved in bringing a slice of the USA’s natural beauty to Hampton Court. Given the breadth of holiday experiences to be had, it is no wonder the USA remains Trailfinders’ most sought after destination. With our unrivalled knowledge and expertise, trust Trailfinders to take care of all your travel arrangements.”

Jude Yeo, Emily Grayshaw and Imogen Perreau Callf, Inspired Earth Design, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been awarded the top three awards at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, especially as an all-female trio. Huge thanks goes to the dedication, belief and incredible hard work of our skilled landscape team, Yoreland Design, and collaborators who have helped us bring this vision to a reality.”

Creating a strong U.S presence at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, Oregon and Charleston are also exhibiting show gardens throughout the week alongside America’s Wild, while Austin musicians Natalie Price and Jo James are performing on the RHS Festival Stage, bringing the sounds of Texas to the U.K.

After The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, the America’s Wild show garden presented by Trailfinders and Visit The USA will be relocated to the U.S. Embassy in London and the American Museum & Gardens in Bath. The trees of the ‘forest’ will be transplanted to create a new Aspen grove on the hillside at the American Museum & Gardens, and the desert and prairie planting will be housed in both existing collections. This relocation will provide opportunities for both the general public at the American Museum & Gardens and visiting dignitaries at the U.S. Embassy to take inspiration from the landscapes of the U.S. for years to come.

Experience the America’s Wild garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival from 4-9 July by booking at https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival. Tickets start from £23.85. 

To book your next great outdoors-inspired trip to the U.S., call Trailfinders on 0207 368 1200, visit one of their 43 stores nationwide or go to www.trailfinders.com; and to discover more about the boundless diversity of American travel experiences, visit www.VisitTheUSA.co.uk.