Swiss Alpine Garden
Don’t worry if you can’t get away to the Alps this summer. Switzerland’s bringing them to you!
Evoking the Swiss Alps in England
The Swiss Alpine Garden will endeavour to evoke the character and atmosphere of the Alps at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Sadie’s design for the Swiss Alpine Garden
The garden has been designed by multiple award-winning British designer Sadie May Stowell. She was inspired by the simple, clean beauty of the Swiss high alpine landscapes, its mountain lakes, streams and rocky mountain peaks.
The main elements of the garden are its use of water and rock features, cleverly combined with delicate wild-flower planting characteristic of the Swiss alpine environment – including lots of emblematic Swiss Edelweiss – set against the backdrop of a dark-wood chalet building. There are also some massive, craggy rocks and even a glacial alpine lake with a trickling steam.
The Swiss Alpine Garden even has it’s very own mountain chalet.
And, in case anyone’s in doubt about the origins of the garden, there are plenty of Swiss adornments – cowbells, typically-Swiss walking signs and, of course, the Swiss flag.
Sadie explained in an RHS interview: “The British were the first tourists to discover the benefits of walking in the Swiss Alps some 150 years ago and Switzerland Tourism want to remind everyone what a fantastic summer destination they are.”
The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show runs from 3-8 July in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, south-west of London. It is open 10am-7pm daily (until 5.30pm Sunday). Tuesday and Wednesday are open days for RHS members only. Tickets are available online and range from £14.50 to £32.50 (depending on the day and time of visit) with free entry for children under 16 (up to 2 kids per paying adult).
Come and play with Fifi!
This year there is also a special Kids’ Zone. Here are some of the activities that you can take part in there:
Making candles and bee-drawing competitions at the British Beekeepers Association stand.
Making a musical instrument out of fruit and vegetables at “Growing Sounds”, and performing with them.
Feeding a Venus Fly Trap.
Giant garden games like Jenga.
For tinies, there’s a Fifi and the Flowertots feature.
Garden trails.
A Tudor Scarecrow competition.
Plus all the usual favourites: henna art, balloon modelling, face-painting, etc… and giant garden games like Jenga.
So, don’t let the damp British weather put you off! Come and admire the Swiss Alpine Garden and give your kids a great day out playing at the largest flower show in the world.
