Multi-award winning designer Paul Hervey-Brookes’ Cancer Research UK Legacy Garden has won the People’s Choice award at RHS Hampton Court
As he won the award, Paul Hervey-Brookes revealed for the first time the powerful personal story behind this year’s gold medal winning garden and his decision to return to the show, which was not known to those who voted for him.
See The Cancer Research UK Legacy Garden
The garden, a love letter to life which conveys hope with its uplifting planting and tranquillity and reflection through its still pool, was sponsored by Cancer Research UK to inspire people to leave gifts for the charity in legacy donations in wills.
“You go through something painful, but you create a space for other people”
Paul last designed for RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in 2016, with
A Dog’s Life for the Dogs Trust. At the time, his partner of 16 years, Yochanan Eshkol, known as Yann, who worked with Paul, was dying of cancer.
Yann visited the show in a wheelchair despite being seriously ill because he knew it was going to be the last time the couple would be with their friends. He also loved dogs and the show. His funeral was held three weeks later.
See Paul’s Garden at RHS Chelsea 2023
Paul went on to design five gold medal winning gardens for RHS shows including for RHS Chelsea earlier this year, and overseas. However he had deliberately kept away from RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
When Cancer Research UK approached him, he initially declined saying he didn’t think he could because it would be painful and difficult for him, and he did not want his experience to eclipse other people’s experiences.
However, after giving the idea more thought, he said: “The counter argument was that if you do it, you go through something painful but you create a space for other people. I decided I would specifically do it here, to put a positive full-stop on that chapter.”
Judges awarded Paul one of two gold medals for Show Gardens at this year’s event. He has won 14 gold medals for RHS shows, but the People’s Choice has a particular poignancy. Paul says: “It’s overwhelming that so many people have interacted with the garden, I was so aware of the journey – mine and other people’s. It’s quite incredible, that it’s connected with people. For everyone who came and helped with the garden, this is just massive.”
The People’s Choice award gives members of the public a chance to vote for their favourite Show Garden and Get Started Garden.
The winner of the People’s Choice Get Started Garden was The Wildlife Trusts: Renters’ Retreat, by Zoe Claymore. Her gold medal winning garden also won the Best Get Started Garden award.
Recieving her award Zoe said, “It’s real affirmation that people understand wildlife gardening is an approach, not an aesthetic.
It’s particularly special for the garden to be awarded the People’s Choice, because the aim is to get people into gardening, so it’s delightful that it’s resonated.”
Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows and Gardens, said: “What a fitting tribute to the inspirational work of Paul Hervey-Brookes. We now know how much this garden meant to him and are pleased it has clearly left a lasting impact on all those who voted.
“It’s also great news for Zoe Claymore, who has won a hat-trick of a gold medal, Best Get Started Garden and now the People’s Choice award for the category.
“We at the RHS would like to congratulate both winners of the People’s Choice award and also thank all of those who voted.”
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