Event

Sandringham Flower Show 2026: Gardens That Stole the Show

August 12, 2026

Olivia Gray

The RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026

The RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 was a celebration of creativity, innovation and the important role gardens can play in supporting our environment. Sustainability and biodiversity were at the heart of this year’s show, with designers using thoughtful planting schemes, innovative materials and nature-friendly construction methods to create spaces that support wildlife, climate resilience and wellbeing.

We look back at some of the standout larger show gardens and community cube gardens from this year’s event, exploring the stories, ideas and inspiration behind each design. From gardens supporting nature recovery and tackling the impacts of climate change, to spaces celebrating accessibility, heritage and community.

Each garden demonstrated how thoughtful design can create meaningful connections between people and the natural world. We’ll highlight some of our favourites and showcase the creative ways designers used planting, materials and sustainability principles to bring their visions to life.

What is the Sandringham Flower Show?

The RHS Sandringham Flower Show is one of the UK’s most prestigious horticultural events, held annually in the beautiful grounds of Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Established in 1977, the show has grown into a much-loved celebration of gardening, design and horticulture, bringing together leading garden designers, nurseries, growers, charities and gardening enthusiasts for a day dedicated to all things plants and gardens.

The show holds a special place within the horticultural calendar due to its unique royal setting and its long-standing connection with the Royal Family. His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla have regularly attended the event, taking the opportunity to explore the gardens, meet exhibitors and celebrate the work of those within the gardening community.

With thousands of visitors attending each year, the show provides an important platform for designers and organisations to share ideas, inspire gardeners and showcase how gardens can contribute positively to our environment and communities.

RHS Sandringham Flower Show Awards and Judging

The RHS Sandringham Flower Show is one of the UK’s most prestigious horticultural events, held annually in the beautiful grounds of Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Established in 1977, the show has become a much-loved celebration of gardening, design and horticulture, bringing together leading garden designers, nurseries, growers, charities and gardening enthusiasts.

Its unique royal setting and long-standing connection with the Royal Family make it a special event within the horticultural calendar, with His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla regularly attending to explore the gardens, meet exhibitors and celebrate the gardening community. Each year, thousands of visitors attend, providing designers and organisations with an important platform to share ideas and demonstrate how gardens can positively impact our environment and communities.

A key part of the show garden experience is the judging process, where each garden is assessed against its own individual client brief. Judges consider the creativity of the concept, quality of construction, planting choices, sustainability, craftsmanship and how effectively the design communicates its intended message. Designers are judged on how successfully they have translated their original brief into a complete and cohesive garden.

The judging process takes place across several stages. During the initial assessment, designers present their gardens, highlighting key features, explaining the inspiration behind the design and outlining any changes from the original brief. Assessors then make an initial medal recommendation.

The following day, the original assessors return alongside four additional judges to evaluate and discuss each garden before finalising scores. The results then move into a moderation stage, where all judges come together to validate the outcomes collaboratively. It is during this stage that the Best-in-Category awards are decided, with scores compared to recognise outstanding achievements.

Following this, medal presentations celebrate the success of the designers and teams involved, while detailed and constructive feedback is provided by the judging panel chairs and an RHS representative to support future development and excellence in garden design.

The RHS Community Cube Gardens

The RHS Sandringham Flower Show’s community cube gardens provided charities, organisations and designers with the opportunity to showcase how even the smallest spaces can have a meaningful impact. These compact gardens were designed to tell powerful stories, raise awareness of important causes and demonstrate how thoughtful design can inspire, educate and connect people with nature.

The cubes highlighted that gardens do not need to be large to make a difference. Through creative planting, innovative features and considered design details, each explored how outdoor spaces can support wellbeing, encourage biodiversity and bring communities together.

Many focused on accessibility, sustainability and creating gardens that can be enjoyed by everyone. From celebrating the transformative power of gardening to supporting vital charitable causes, each cube garden had its own unique message and identity. Despite their smaller scale, they showcased the same creativity, passion and attention to detail as the larger show gardens, proving that even the smallest spaces can tell meaningful stories and leave a lasting impression.

The Vision in Bloom Garden by Rajul Shah

One of the standout community gardens from this year’s Sandringham Flower Show was Vision in Bloom, beautifully designed by Rajul Shah in support of Vision Norfolk, with sponsorship from the RHS. Created to raise awareness of sight loss, the garden explored how people living with visual impairment can experience enjoyment, connection and fulfilment through gardens.

The asymmetrical yet balanced design reflected the imperfect beauty of the human face, while the shapes and colours throughout the garden drew inspiration from the microscopic anatomy of the human eye. It was a thoughtful reminder that a well-designed garden can be experienced through far more than just sight.

The planting was particularly impressive, with rich drifts spilling over the steel edging to soften the structure and create a wonderfully immersive feel. Layers of Echinacea, Salvia, Achillea and Agastache brought contrasting colour, texture, scent and movement, while culinary herbs introduced an element of taste.

Striking steel eye sculptures framed the space, working alongside the surrounding trees to draw the eye upwards, while galvanised trough planters reflected light into the planting. Every detail had been carefully considered to engage the senses and reinforce the garden’s message, creating a beautiful and inspiring space that showed just how inclusive garden design can be.

A Living Story of Transformation by Mike Long Gardens and Tom Rollett

Another fantastic community garden at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show was A Living Story of Transformation, designed by Mike Long Gardens and Tom Rollett in support of The Papillon Project, with sponsorship from the RHS. Inspired by the remarkable lifecycle of a butterfly, the garden explored themes of growth, progress and transformation, reflecting the way young people can develop confidence, wellbeing and purpose through connecting with nature and cultivating plants.

At the heart of the garden stood the striking Papillon Tree, an impressive sculptural structure created from reclaimed timber. Its repurposed materials beautifully reflected the garden’s wider message that, with care and opportunity, something old can be transformed into something extraordinary.

The planting evolved throughout the garden, representing the different stages of a butterfly’s lifecycle, while vertical structures added height and interest and provided support for the developing plants. Hidden amongst the foliage were caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies, with some even carrying the voices and stories of the young people involved in the project.

It was a brilliant example of how garden design can do more than simply create a beautiful space; it can educate, inspire and encourage meaningful conversations around sustainability, wellbeing and the natural world. Gardens like this are a wonderful reminder that every design has the power to tell a story.

Swim Between the Flags by Chloe Erskine

The community gardens at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show were full of creativity, with each one using thoughtful design to communicate a unique story. One that particularly stood out was Swim Between the Flags, designed by Chloe Erskine in support of the RNLI and sponsored by the RHS.

Inspired by the work of RNLI lifeguards, the garden recreated the character of a coastal dune landscape, with the charity’s iconic red and yellow flags providing a strong visual anchor. Sculpted dunes were combined with coastal grasses and vibrant flowering perennials, creating a planting scheme that felt both naturalistic and full of energy.

One of my favourite features was the curtain of rain, which introduced movement and the soothing sound of falling water into the garden, cleverly referencing sea spray and the coastal environment. A timber fingerpost pointing towards beaches across the UK also highlighted the RNLI’s presence and importance along our coastline.

Every element worked together to create a dynamic and immersive garden that celebrated the landscapes we enjoy while communicating such an important message about coastal safety. It was a great example of how a garden can be both visually engaging and meaningful.

The Show Gardens

The show gardens at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show are always a highlight of the event, allowing designers to explore important themes, push creative boundaries and showcase the future of garden design. This year, sustainability and biodiversity were at the forefront, demonstrating how gardens can support wildlife, respond to climate challenges and create meaningful connections between people and nature.

Each garden told a unique story, inspired by themes such as heritage, community, conservation and innovation. From thoughtful planting and habitat creation to sustainable materials and climate-resilient features, designers showed how gardens can be both beautiful and functional, offering ideas that can be adapted into spaces of all sizes.

From climate-conscious designs exploring water management and nature recovery, to gardens celebrating art, history and charitable causes, the show gardens highlighted the incredible potential of thoughtful landscape design. In the following sections, we explore some of the standout gardens and the inspiration, ideas and environmental messages behind them.

100 Sweet Summers

One of the standout larger show gardens at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show was 100 Sweet Summers, designed by Kitti Kovacs. The garden explored the balance between nostalgia and innovation, telling the story of a retired couple celebrating a lifetime of family, friendship and summer memories.

At its heart was an oak-framed cabin decorated with recycled wine bottles collected from special occasions, surrounded by colourful planting inspired by their past. Personal touches, including handmade macramé features, a swing for grandchildren, a parasol and decorative curtains, brought warmth and character to the space, while reclaimed scaffolding boards and recycled materials demonstrated how sustainability can be incorporated without compromising on design.

The planting celebrated traditional garden favourites while supporting biodiversity, with zinnias, single dahlias and snapdragons providing vibrant colour and valuable nectar for pollinators. Structural plants such as Canna ‘Stuttgart’, Eryngium × olivierianum BIG BLUE and Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Erica’ added height, texture and movement, while the Dahlia ‘Sissinghurst’ was a fitting highlight. A chamomile lawn offered a fragrant, sensory and low-maintenance alternative to traditional grass.

Sustainability was further showcased through Bioo panels, which use natural biological processes to generate electricity and provide sustainable lighting. Combining reclaimed materials, wildlife-friendly planting and innovative technology, 100 Sweet Summers celebrated the memories gardens create across generations while looking towards a more sustainable future. The garden was awarded a Silver-Gilt medal and won the People’s Choice Show Garden Award.

Mindful Chef’s Gathering

One of the standout larger show gardens at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show was Mindful Chef’s Gathering, designed by Sophie Godber. Inspired by the complex habitats of a traditional orchard, the garden explored how these biodiverse landscapes can be recreated within smaller domestic spaces.

With an estimated 90% of traditional orchards in England and Wales lost since the 1950s, the design highlighted the importance of protecting these valuable habitats for biodiversity, carbon storage and cultural heritage. Beneath fruiting and nut trees, a naturalistic understorey combined edible and ornamental planting, with pollinator-friendly flowers, winter seedheads and a vibrant palette of lilac, purple and orange.

The garden demonstrated how individual gardens can become part of a wider network of habitats, supporting wildlife, food production and community. A central deck created a gathering space for friends and neighbours, while a green-roofed shed, natural pond, native hedgerow and wildlife boxes added further habitat value. Edible plants such as Prunus avium ‘Bigarreau Burlat’ and Vicia faba ‘Karmazyn’ were combined with ornamental planting, proving productive gardens can also be beautiful and wildlife-friendly.

Sustainability and innovation were central to the design, with untreated Douglas Fir decking, reclaimed and natural materials, and innovative 3D-printed nest boxes providing homes for birds. Additional nesting features made from corn starch and wood shavings, alongside a naturally designed wildlife pond, demonstrated how thoughtful construction can support nature recovery.

The result was a garden that showed sustainability and beauty can work hand in hand. Celebrating nature recovery through planting, habitat creation and innovative materials, Mindful Chef’s Gathering was awarded a Gold Medal, the Best RHS Innovation Award and The King’s Biodiversity Award, making it an inspiring example of how future gardens can support both people and wildlife.

Mindful Meadowlands

Another impressive larger show garden at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show was Mindful Meadowlands, designed by Constructing Minds with Nature CIC and a winner of a bronze medal. The garden explored one of the less obvious effects of climate change on our gardens: the increasing risk of flooding alongside periods of extreme heat and drought.

One in six homes in England is at risk of flooding; the design demonstrated how thoughtful garden design can help manage excess water while creating a tranquil, year-round green space. A bespoke pergola provided a shaded place to sit as well as acting as a sculptural focal point, while a curved, raised boardwalk followed the natural flow of a river, slowing the movement of water and allowing visitors to move safely above potentially waterlogged ground.

Every element of the garden had a practical purpose, while still contributing to its calm and naturalistic character. A ‘dead hedge’ provided shelter and food for small mammals while helping to slow excess water flow, and crushed gravel offered a permeable, wheelchair-friendly surface that allowed surface water to drain away.

The planting followed a soft palette of blues, whites and claret, creating a peaceful atmosphere, with trees including Alnus incana ‘Aurea’, Crataegus × media ‘Plena’, Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Palo Alto’ and Salix caprea chosen for their ability to tolerate wetter conditions and provide valuable wildlife habitat. Native wildflowers added further biodiversity, offering food for insects while highlighting the importance of restoring wildflower meadows, which have declined by around 97% since the 1930s.

Sustainability was considered throughout Mindful Meadowlands, with the materials and construction methods supporting the garden’s wider environmental message. The raised boardwalk was created using Pioneer Advanced Composite, a wood-free material made from a bamboo core mix and recycled plastic.

Its manufacturing process uses solar power and avoids harmful chemical treatments, while the bamboo-based composite offers durability and resistance to mould, odours and allergens. Combined with the use of crushed gravel for natural drainage, the garden demonstrated how material choices can contribute to a more sustainable and climate-resilient outdoor space.

The planting was equally purposeful. The selected trees not only cope with waterlogged conditions but also provide seasonal interest, support wildlife and, in some cases, help to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. Their ability to capture carbon also reinforces the important role trees can play in tackling the wider impacts of climate change.

What we particularly liked about Mindful Meadowlands was how these practical solutions were incorporated without making the garden feel overly engineered. Instead, the design remained soft, inviting and peaceful, showing that gardens can be both beautiful spaces to enjoy and valuable tools for managing the environmental challenges we increasingly face.

The RNIB Talking Books Garden

One of the most memorable larger show gardens at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show was the RNIB Talking Books Garden, created to celebrate the impact of gifts left in Wills and the 90th anniversary of RNIB Talking Books. Inspired by the power of books to transport us into new worlds, the garden reflected the imaginative libraries created through reading, while highlighting how RNIB’s free Talking Books service provides thousands of people with sight loss access to fiction, non-fiction and educational material.

The design featured curved shingle walls and upward-reaching ladders, creating a modern interpretation of traditional libraries. Sensory planting was central to the garden, with textural plants chosen to reflect the importance of sound within the Talking Books experience. Betula, Salix and Miscanthus added movement, texture and gentle sounds, demonstrating how gardens can be experienced through more than just sight.

Sustainability was also a key focus, with the garden created without concrete, incorporating recycled materials, climate-resilient planting and innovative peat-free growing mediums. Combining meaningful storytelling, accessibility, sensory design and responsible construction, the garden celebrated the connection between nature and wellbeing while highlighting the life-changing impact of RNIB Talking Books. It was awarded a Gold Medal, the Best Show Garden Award, the Best Construction Award, and was highly commended in the RHS Environmental Innovation Award category.

The Chestnut Group Garden for The Gurkha Welfare Trust

One of the standout larger show gardens at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show was The Chestnut Group Garden for The Gurkha Welfare Trust, designed as a climate-resilient space inspired by the diverse landscapes of the Himalayas. The garden combined three distinct environments, woodland, rain garden and dry gravel garden, demonstrating how different planting styles and water management techniques can create adaptable spaces that respond to changing weather conditions.

The woodland featured modern cultivars inspired by Himalayan plant genera, while the rain garden captured water from the pergola roof through a rain chain and underground pipe, directing it towards moisture-loving planting. In contrast, the raised gravel garden showcased drought-tolerant plants protected by gravel mulch, highlighting how gardens can adapt to periods of reduced rainfall while supporting biodiversity.

Sustainability was central to the design, with local gravel, reclaimed bricks and blocks used throughout. A recycled steel pergola, inspired by traditional Nepalese metal water bottles, created a striking focal point, while Alive Labs’ Terranite panels showcased an innovative carbon-negative, bio-receptive material that allows mosses and bryophytes to grow directly onto architectural surfaces.

The planting celebrated Himalayan flora, with a colour palette of purple, blue, white and pink. Key plants included Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Selinum wallichianum, Miscanthus nepalensis, Rhododendron rubiginosum and Euphorbia schillingii, combining texture, structure and regional authenticity. Supporting the vital work of The Gurkha Welfare Trust, the garden celebrated both the landscapes of Nepal and the charity’s work with Gurkha veterans, families and communities. The garden was awarded a Silver-Gilt Medal.

The Thomas Gainsborough Garden

One of the most captivating larger show gardens at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show was The Thomas Gainsborough Garden, created to launch the tercentenary celebrations of the artist Thomas Gainsborough’s birth. Inspired by the garden at Gainsborough’s House and his celebrated paintings, the design created a living canvas that explored the connection between art, landscape and nature.

Gainsborough’s use of chiaroscuro, the contrast between light and dark, was reflected through layered planting and carefully considered spaces, creating depth, atmosphere and movement. The garden featured elements inspired by Gainsborough’s surroundings, including limewashed walls referencing Suffolk buildings, a garden studio representing an artist’s workspace, golden yew trees echoing those at Gainsborough’s House and a young mulberry tree representing the historic 400-year-old specimen.

A reflective pool mirrored the East Anglian sky, adding tranquillity and completing the artistic composition. The planting brought Gainsborough’s landscapes and portraits to life, with a naturalistic woodland edge of Acer campestre, Betula pendula, Crataegus monogyna and Fagus sylvatica reflecting the soft backgrounds of his paintings.

Roses and dahlias echoed the colours and floral details found within his portraits, while key plants such as Morus alba and Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata aureomarginata’ referenced features from Gainsborough’s House. With sustainably sourced materials and a ‘right plant, right place’ approach, the garden successfully blended history, horticulture and art. It was awarded a Silver Medal at the show.

Feeling inspired by the Sandringham Garden Show?

If the gardens at this year’s Sandringham Flower Show have left you feeling inspired, why not bring some of those ideas into your own garden? At Norfolk Garden Services, we can help turn your ideas into a beautiful, practical outdoor space, from the initial garden design through to the construction and planting.

You don’t need a show garden-sized space or an unlimited budget to create something special. Whether you’ve fallen in love with a particular planting style, a sustainable feature, a clever use of space or simply the atmosphere of one of the gardens featured in this blog, we can take the elements you love and adapt them to suit your garden, lifestyle and budget. Even if you can only incorporate a small piece of the inspiration you’ve seen, we can help you make it work within your space.

From patios, paving and planting to fencing, lighting, irrigation and bespoke garden features, our team can help bring your vision to life. You may not be able to recreate a Sandringham show garden, but you can certainly take inspiration from one and make it your own.

A Celebration of Future Gardening

Looking back at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026, it was clear that sustainability and biodiversity were not simply themes running through the gardens; they were the foundation of many of the designs on display. From climate-resilient planting and innovative materials to wildlife-friendly habitats and spaces designed to bring communities together, the show highlighted the powerful role gardens can play in creating a greener and more connected future.

While we have focused on just a selection of our favourite show gardens and community cube gardens, many other fantastic designs deserve recognition. Each garden brought its own unique story, whether celebrating heritage, supporting charitable causes, encouraging accessibility or demonstrating new approaches to sustainable gardening. The creativity and passion shown by all the designers made this year’s show a truly inspiring event.

The RHS Sandringham Flower Show continues to demonstrate that gardens are much more than beautiful spaces. They are places for wildlife, wellbeing, education and connection and this year’s gardens provided a brilliant reminder that even the smallest design choices can make a positive difference for the environment and future generations.