Great Fountain Garden sustainable redesign at Hampton Court Palace

Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the independent charity that cares for Hampton Court Palace, has appointed award-winning garden designer Ann-Marie Powell to redesign the Great Fountain Garden at Hampton Court Palace to make it more sustainable, climate resilient and biodiverse in the years to come.

Ann-Marie Powell will work closely alongside Historic Royal Palace’s gardening team to design and implement a new permanent planting scheme featuring more perennials, naturalised bulbs and shrubs to reduce carbon emissions, improve soil health, and enhance biodiversity while creating vibrant garden displays year-round.

Ann-Marie Powell said: “Sustainability is at the core of my approach in designing garden habitats that invite an evolving ecology, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with Historic Royal Palaces and their talented gardening team to reimagine the Great Fountain Garden. Together, we will honour the garden’s rich history by promoting sustainable gardening practices that ensure it can continue to thrive in the face of future environmental challenges.”

Alex Wigley, Head of Gardens and Parks at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “The redevelopment of the Great Fountain Garden is an exciting step forward for us in embracing sustainable horticulture at Hampton Court Palace. By implementing more environmentally-conscious planting schemes we can reduce emissions, improve biodiversity, enhance soil health, and ensure that these gardens continue to flourish for centuries to come.”

The Great Fountain Garden at Hampton Court Palace was originally laid out by William III and Mary II between 1689 and 1696, featuring an avenue of lime trees and yew topiary aligned with the Queen’s State Apartments. It was later simplified under Queen Anne, with the largest fountain remaining in the centre of the garden. In Queen Victoria’s reign, palace gardeners embraced the fashion for colourful annual flower displays and the development of herbaceous and mixed borders along the Palace.

With this appointment, the design phase of the redevelopment is now underway. Practical changes to the gardens are expected to commence in Autumn 2025.