The Boodles Garden

The garden

Celebrating Historic Royal Palaces, The Boodles Garden design draws inspiration from iconic features found across four landmark sites. The garden layout echoes that of the Tower of London, with light-coloured limestone paving reflecting the stonework of the White Tower and architectural elements of Hampton Court Palace.

At the heart of the garden, a continuous rill represents the Tower of London’s historic moat. A central, asymmetrical pavilion, inspired by the decorative ceiling of the Picnic Room in Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, Kew Palace, provides a sheltered area for relaxing and entertaining.

The planting palette is rich, bold and luxurious. Shades of purple evoke the iridescent feathers of the Tower’s iconic ravens and the colour variations of grapes from Hampton Court’s Great Vine. Deep red tones reference the Damask wallpaper found at both Hampton Court and Kensington Palaces.

Key plants

The garden reflects a popular romantic, gardenesque style of planting, using cultivated species with a strong emphasis on the jewel colours – red and purple – associated with luxury and royalty.

• Iris ‘Superstition’ and Iris ‘Black Swan’ – chosen for their bold, eye-catching colour and striking form
• Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ – a cow parsley variety with dark, purple-toned leaves, adding texture and depth
• Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ – features small, delicately scented leaves and velvety purple flowers
• Paeonia ‘Buckeye Belle’ – a beautiful scarlet-red peony, representing the red of the Damask wallpaper at Kensington and Hampton Court Palaces
• Taxus baccata – the dominant structural plant in the garden. This dark-leaved evergreen, native to the UK, is steeped in legend and historically used for topiary in many classic British estates and Historic Royal Palace gardens

Plants supplier: Deepdale Trees and Creepers Nursery

Sustainability notes

Native trees, hedges, and custom-designed bird boxes and insect habitats inspired by Historic Royal Palaces’ features, enhance biodiversity. A sculptural metal rill channels water alongside the garden steps into an underground storage unit beneath the central entertaining area, serving both as a water source for wildlife and a practical design element. These features demonstrate how functional garden components can also be visually striking and tailored to suit any space or aesthetic.

The garden paths and paving areas have a recycled, permeable sub-base and grout to allow for SuDs compliant drainage and rendered garden walls will be formed from a Medite wood product, made from sustainable FSC certified timber.

The designer – Catherine MacDonald

“I’m delighted to be celebrating my third year at RHS Chelsea with Boodles, presenting a garden inspired by some of the UK’s most iconic and historically significant sites. This incredible opportunity has allowed me to delve into the world of Historic Royal Palaces, immersing myself in the richness of our cultural heritage and drawing inspiration from the craftsmanship and artistry that have shaped our architecture, landscapes, and interiors over the centuries. It’s a joy to highlight the enduring legacy of the artisans and craftsmen whose skills and creativity continue to inspire and influence design today,” Catherine MacDonald.

Catherine MacDonald is a British landscape designer and head of design at Landform Consultants Ltd, where she’s led creative projects for over 15 years. Known for her award-winning show gardens, including three Gold medals at RHS Chelsea, Catherine blends architectural structure with naturalistic planting to create joyful, bespoke spaces. With a PhD in genetics, her designs are environmentally sensitive and wildlife-friendly. She’s an RHS Judge, mentor to Young Designers, and has worked on prestigious projects including gardens at Sandringham Estate and Windsor Castle.

Hear from the sponsors – Boodles

“Boodles has been involved with RHS Chelsea Flower Show for five years now, and going into our sixth year. RHS Chelsea is one of my favourite weeks of the year, and I look forward to it for the previous twelve months. But the excitement starts even earlier as Catherine and I plan the next garden, usually from 18 months out. We are seriously excited about our next offering, and hugely grateful to Historic Royal Palaces for all their support in creating a really special RHS Chelsea garden. Boodles are collaborating with Historic Royal Palaces and will also be launching a new jewellery collection inspired by classic features and hidden details at these historic palaces.” James Amos, Managing Director, Boodles.

Garden legacy

Relocation of the garden will be sponsored by Boodles, with most of the soft landscaping scheme being rehomed and redesigned for the 20th Century Garden at Hampton Court Palace. The remaining garden features and most of the hard landscape elements are to be included in a new design at one of Historic Royal Palace’s community and charity partners’ sites. Catherine and Boodles will be working closely with the Historic Royal Palaces’ team to ensure that the redesigned gardens work in their new environments.