RHS Badminton Flower Show is putting Gloucestershire at the heart of the UK's gardening map for the first time.

There's an amazing depth and breadth of talent on display at the new event at Badminton Estate this July 2026. We visited on the first day of the show on Wednesday 8 July, wondering what to expect.

As fans of nearby RHS Malvern Spring Festival, the layout is reassuringly familiar. But what sets RHS Badminton apart is its celebration of Gloucestershire gardening experts.

There are, of course, great garden designers and trades people from across the UK, showing off what they do best. But we were most interested in home grown inspiration.

Artisan gardens from Tetbury's Nick Leitch and Nailsworth's Rachael Austin caught our eye.

Nick's 'Honing Heritage' garden highlights the skill of dry-stone walling and is inspired by a traditional Cotswold garden. While Rachael's 'Artisan Woodland Craft Garden' shines a spotlight on the education of Stroud-based Ruskin Mill and learning from nature.

A Pocket Planting section for budding designers shows-off the power of compost and community thanks to Stroud's Simon Deeves, alongside a celebration of the beauty of nature by Megan Dodd from Tetbury.

Over in the floral marquee, Newent herb specialists Neil and Niamh Jones, of Kitchen Garden Plant Centre, are centre stage with an expansive, informative display.

A colourful allotment border from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust highlights companion planting and soil health. And Gloucestershire stained-glass artist Sarah Davis is bringing Cotswold and Severn Vale landscape inspired creations to an Artisan Studio.

Cheltenham florist Millie Richardson has dressed the giant RHS letters at the heart of the show, drawing inspiration from Gloucestershire-inspired Bramley Hedge stories, in a wonderfully wild naturalistic style. Her research into native plants will live on, with her chosen trees set to be planted throughout Badminton Estate once the show is over.

We were deeply moved by the largest feature garden ever undertaken at an RHS show. Created by designer Tom Stuart-Smith, it celebrates the life of late philanthropist Julia Rausing, in a thoughtful display sponsored by her husband Han, who lives in Gloucestershire.

The swirling planting in shades of purple and white offers a nod to the ever changing shape of grief, as well as an opportunity to pause, reflect and remember loved ones who have passed on.

The theme of grief has also been picked up by young designer Sophie Leo, who lost her mother to cancer in 2022. Her Cotswold stone framed space, sponsored by Maggie's cancer charity, offers plenty of food for thought.

Sophie reflected on the walks she and her mother took in Cirencester and the Cotswolds and said her garden, named 'Where Grief Grows Quiet' is intended to be a space of refuge to comfort those experiencing loss.

Chatting to visitors at the show, enthusiasm levels are exceptionally high, with only minor gripes about traffic queues.

It seems hopes are high RHS Badminton could become a more permanent fixture in the future gardening calendar. We'll be watching with interest.

RHS Badminton Flower Show, at Badminton Estate, runs until Sunday 12 July 2026.