The Royal Horticultural Society has announced that voting is now open for the RHS Partner Garden of the Year 2023.
Following the success of the first two years, people will once again have a chance to name their top ‘Feel Good Garden’ out of more than 220 RHS Partner Gardens.
Thousands of votes were cast in 2022, when Nant y Bedd garden in Monmouthshire was crowned winner and the RHS is hoping that more and more people will want to show their appreciation of their favourite gardens by clicking to vote.
Votes can be cast via the RHS website rhs.org.uk/pgoty from today until 29 September 2023 and visitors can choose their favourite garden from one of the following six regions: Midlands and East Anglia; North and Northern Ireland; Overseas; Scotland; South East and Channel Islands; and South West and Wales. All voters will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of tickets to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in 2024 with a luxury two-night stay close to the showground.
The gardens will then be ranked according to the number of votes they have received relative to their total visitor numbers for the previous year, and the comments from their voters, to determine the winner for each region and the overall winner. The winners will be revealed in December, and will receive a special plaque to display at their property as well as a professional photoshoot of their garden.
Helen Feary, RHS Partner Garden Manager, said: “The RHS Partner Garden of the Year competition is growing from strength to strength and we’re delighted that nearly twice as many votes were cast in 2022 as in 2021. It’s heart-warming to read so many wonderful comments about how good a visit to the garden makes people feel. With so many gardens taking part and encouraging their visitors to vote, it should be easier than ever for people to show their appreciation for their favourite garden.”
There are currently 221 gardens in the RHS Partner Gardens scheme, including 18 new gardens in 2023, which RHS Members can visit free of charge at selected times of the year. They comprise some of the most famous gardens in the world as well as privately-owned hidden gems, and beyond the UK can be found in 8 countries across the globe, including Barbados, Japan and South Africa.
