RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

6-11 July 2010

At the 2010 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Girlguiding displayed one of the premier show gardens along with a selection of recycled containers and balcony gardens that our members had designed, grown and planted for the show.

The Girlguiding Centenary Garden was designed by award-winning garden designer Philippa Pearson, who met with various Girlguiding members to help her gain an insight into what it meant to be part of the UK’s latest organisation for girls and young women. 

Five key themes which reflected the ethos of guiding today emerged through consultations and were reflected in the final design of the Show Garden:

• The entrance, which represented the beginnings of guiding by using plants that were commonly available in 1909, planted in the style of Gertrude Jekyll – one of the foremost female garden designers of the time.
• A tent-like structure which represented the valuable ‘girl time’ that guiding provides.
• International and unusual vegetables, fruit and herbs, which were used to show how guiding is open to all and actively encourages and supports diversity.
• A film showing current members taking part in a range of activities to represent how guiding continues to evolve to remain relevant to today’s girls.
• A turf landform with a chill out area for thinking and discussion, included to represent how guiding gives girls the chance to have their views and opinions heard.      

The garden was hugely popular with visitors who were allowed to walk through the garden and enjoy all its elements. The garden received two awards: A Silver-Gilt Medal and The People’s Choice Award.

As well as presenting the show garden, Girlguiding teamed up with the RHS to give our young members an opportunity to create their own designs for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show through two exciting competitions. Thirty winning units had their designs for recycled containers and balconies brought to life and admired by over 165,000 members of the public at the Show. 

The Recycled Container Competition saw Rainbows, Brownies and Guides entering Centenary-inspired designs, planted in reclaimed or recycled containers. The 24 winning recycled containers exemplified what our members love about being part of guiding – from friendships, camping and cooking to being outdoors. The containers made innovative use of a range of vessels, plants and props including a wheelchair, suitcases and wellies. Visitors to the show voted for their favourite design, with the winners receiving prizes from the RHS.

The Ultimate Adventure Balcony Competition, sponsored by PKF, saw Guides and Senior Section members designing balconies on the theme of Girlguiding’s Centenary Ultimate Adventures. The six balconies were inspired by a wide range of adventures - sailing around the British Isles, trekking to Mount Everest base camp and supporting development projects around Africa, amongst many others. The balconies were judged by the RHS, who awarded the three highly commended, two commended and one merit.

The Centenary Show Garden was supported by several external companies who provided much of the equipment, furniture, materials, accessories, seeds, and landscaping.

There was also a new flower launched in the Girlguiding Show Garden by Girlguiding Guernsey. The clematis, 'Guiding Promise' was bred by Raymond Evison of the Guernsey Clematis Nursery.