RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
Albion Stone is delighted to have supplied the Portland Stone that feature prominently in the award‑winning “Green the Gap” garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Designed by Sam Kemp and Laura Strand, with carving works completed by Teucer Wilson, the installation won a Gold medal at the show and was also voted Best in Category (City Pocket Planting), celebrating urban sanctuaries that support both people and wildlife.
Situated amid the hustle of city life, the “Green the Gap” garden demonstrates how neglected urban nooks can be transformed into thriving green spaces. The Portland Stone forms—designed to replicate an urban environment—echo classical architectural detailing, yet are softened by drought‑tolerant planting and recycled aggregate mulch, creating an inspiring dialogue between built and natural landscapes.
The planting palette, featuring species such as Reseda luteola, Stipa tenuissima and Bulbine frutescens, has been carefully chosen for its adaptability to poor soil and minimal irrigation requirements. This selection underscores the garden’s message: even the most challenging urban crevices can sustain life and beauty when thoughtfully designed and sensitively crafted.
The overarching concept of the stand is to re‑green urban spaces, transforming overlooked corners into havens for pollinators and city‑dwellers alike. Following the Festival, all plants will be relocated to The Norfolk School of Gardening for use in educational projects, extending the garden’s legacy and reinforcing the importance of resourcefulness and biodiversity in our cities.
Albion Stone, a fourth generation family business pride ourselves on having a helpful and skilled workforce as well as modern and traditional manufacturing process to enable us to produce the highest quality Portland Stone with minimal environmental impact.
