The winner of the popular vote for best garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival has revealed the heart-breaking inspiration behind his winning design.
Multi-award winning designer Paul Hervey-Brookes, 43, returned to the Festival for the first time in seven years and won the People’s Choice award. As he won, Paul shared the story behind the garden and his decision to return to the show for the first time.
The garden was sponsored by Cancer Research UK to inspire people to leave gifts for the charity in legacy donations in wills. It comes after Paul’s partner Youchanan Eshkol, known as Yann, died of the disease.
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Paul last designed for RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in 2016, with A Dog’s Life for the Dogs Trust.
Yann visited the show in a wheelchair despite being seriously ill because he knew it was going to be the last time the couple would be with their friends. He also loved dogs and the show. His funeral was held three weeks later.
Paul went on to design five gold medal winning gardens for RHS shows including for RHS Chelsea earlier this year, and overseas. However he had deliberately kept away from RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
When Cancer Research UK approached him, he initially declined saying he didn’t think he could because it would be painful and difficult for him, and he did not want his experience to eclipse other people’s experiences.
However, after giving the idea more thought, he said: “The counter argument was that if you do it, you go through something painful but you create a space for other people. I decided I would specifically do it here, to put a positive full-stop on that chapter.”
Judges awarded Paul one of two gold medals for Show Gardens at this year’s event. He has won 14 gold medals for RHS shows.
The People’s Choice award gives members of the public a chance to vote for their favourite Show Garden and Get Started Garden.
The winner of the People’s Choice Get Started Garden was The Wildlife Trusts: Renters’ Retreat, by Zoe Claymore. Her gold medal winning garden also won the Best Get Started Garden award.
Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows and Gardens, said: “What a fitting tribute to the inspirational work of Paul Hervey-Brookes. We now know how much this garden meant to him and are pleased it has clearly left a lasting impact on all those who voted.
“It’s also great news for Zoe Claymore, who has won a hat-trick of a gold medal, Best Get Started Garden and now the People’s Choice award for the category.
“We at the RHS would like to congratulate both winners of the People’s Choice award and also thank all of those who voted.”
Tickets to RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival can be purchased in person at the ticket office or online at www.rhs.org.uk/hampton
