HAMPTON COURT 2025

COASTAL REFLECTIONS - ‘For the Love of Lamiaceae’

Now, voyager – once resigned. Go forth to seek and find. The hazy days you left behind. Right there in the back of your mind. Where lucid dreams begin With rolling dunes and rattling shale. The shoreline then a swollen sail Picked out by a shimmering halo.. That’s where the sea comes in…

- “Nation’s Ode to The Coast” - Dr John Cooper Clarke’s

This garden is a love letter to the English coast and a poignant reminder of the rising sea levels and the vanishing shorelines caused by climate change. It celebrates the beauty and nostalgia of a sunset coastal walk, creating a sensory experience rooted in the colours and textures of plants from the Lamiaceae family, complemented by coastal-friendly elements.

By showcasing the diversity of the Lamiaceae family, my aim is to craft a garden that not only honours the natural beauty of the coast but also nurtures the soul. With its calming scents and soothing atmosphere, the garden will invite visitors to pause and reflect on the urgent need to protect our coastline and the environment.

The design will centre around a coastal gravel garden, featuring plants that thrive in this unique environment. Drought-tolerant species and coastal-friendly plants, including fragrant herbs from the Lamiaceae family like mints and thymes, will be used to evoke the sensory experience of a coastal sunset walk. The colours of the garden—shimmering blues and purples of the ocean fading into the warm reds and yellows of the setting sun—will provide a tranquil backdrop for quiet reflection.

Many of the Lamiaceae plants, especially those from Mediterranean climates, are naturally drought-resistant and well-suited to the salty sea air and well-drained soils, reducing the need for expensive and wasteful irrigation systems. Additionally, these hardy shrubs and woody species are more resilient to strong coastal winds than delicate perennials. All of the plants chosen will also support local biodiversity, providing valuable nectar and pollen for pollinators.

Sponsored by LCGD

Photography by Sophie Claire Gardens

Corten metal by Weatherit

Plants by How Green, Jacksons, North Hill.

Bench from The Firepit Company

Corten water bowl from Parker and Coop