Juliet Sargeant secures the win for Best in Show with Disney’s the Lion King inspired community garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Disney’s West End musical, the Lion King Community Garden looks to “rethink the English Garden”, with climate change in mind.

The garden’s recycled, crushed red brick soil is planted with swathes of resilient grasses, plants and trees, such as Bulbinella frutescens, Zanthoxyllum simulans and Gleditsia Skyline, to pay homage to the Pridelands.

Thenjiwe Thendiva Nofemele performs in The Lion King 25 Anniversary Garden. Credit: Craig Sugden

Its overall planting scheme and colour palette reflects the bright hues of Julier Taymor’s theatrical design

The cast of the musical performing on the Lion King Community garden.

The Lion King Community Garden garden designer, Juliet Sargeant comments on the win, saying it is a “privilege” to event exhibit at the show;

“But to have been awarded Best Show Garden is amazing, especially given the calibre of gardens this year.”

On top of Best in Show, Sargeant’s design also earned her a Silver-Gilt medal and the RHS Environmental Innovation Award.

RHS Hampton Court runs from 2 July through to 7 July 2024. Check out our 16 highlights from Press Day.