Discover Jordan Garden

Designer Paul Hervey-Brookes talks about bringing a flavour of Jordan to Hampton

Discover Jordan has been created by Paul Hervey-Brookes, who was inspired by the story of Johann Burckhardt’s rediscovery of Petra 200 years ago.

For many people Jordan begins and ends with its most iconic site, the ancient Nabataean ‘lost city’ of Petra. Paul travelled to the kingdom of Jordan on a journey to discover some of the country’s natural hidden treasures and fell in love with the colour and variety of the landscapes, and the warmth and hospitality of the locals who are fascinating storytellers and passionate ambassadors for the country. In such a celebratory year for Jordan, Paul is delighted to be recreating a small slice of this magical land at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Why did you concentrate on these two areas?

These two areas are generally recognised as forming part of the Cradle of Civilisation. They not only have dramatic topography but also the most fantastic abundance of flora, which I think really sets Jordan apart from the rest of the Middle East. There are 2,554 species of plants predominantly growing in just 4% of the land mass - the rest of the country is essentially desert. Incidentally, in the UK, our native flora number well under 2,000 species spread throughout the country.

How did you cement the garden concept?

I believed it would be impossible to design something that reflected such a unique landscape without seeing, it, feeling it, even smelling it – it was an amazing experience. It’s easy just to think of Lawrence of Arabia charging across sand dunes, but Jordan has a rich and fascinating history, the focus of which is at Petra, as well as plenty of places of natural interest like Wadi Rum and Wadi Mujib, the Dana Nature Reserve and, of course, the Dead Sea.

How will you capture the romance of Petra?

Its scale is far too vast to try to capture, so far better to concentrate on what I hope is something memorable which sets a spark in the visitor’s imagination and makes them want to go and see it. I have made reference to that shot [the iconic image of the Treasury glimpsed through the narrow canyon, the pink rock glowing in the sun] however, by including a tunnel through which one glimpses pillars and walls one way and looking through the other; one sees a wide expanse of semi-desert landscape.

Have you linked to different aspects of Jordan?

Yes, obviously Petra with the ruins, then the plants, which tell the story of Bedouin medicine, the rock formations refer to the fascinating geology of the country, and forward-looking Jordan is represented by a sculpture that’s influenced by Jordan’s most famous sculptor, Mona Saudi.

It’s not about giving people ideas to take home?

No, it’s about the landscape and firing up the visitor’s imagination, so I’m afraid it’s unlikely to provide inspiration for clever ways to use space at home, unless they garden in Jordan of course!