This year's RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, sponsored by Viking Cruises*, will feature its largest ever World Gardens section, with 6 destinations being brought to life through imaginative gardens. Set against the historic backdrop of Hampton Court Palace, at the world's largest flower show, this exciting feature offers the chance for exhibitors from all corners of the globe to recreate a sense of their destination through individually created gardens.  This year's offering features designs ranging from the terraces of Machu Picchu to the mountains and vineyards of Oregon, and from 1066 country to Galicia's historic pilgrim's route.

There is a strong American theme with three 'Great Gardens of the USA'  sponsored by Brand USA, all designed by Sadie May Stowell.  To tie in with these gardens, RHS Garden Holidays (www.rhsgardenholidays.com), the dedicated travel division of the Royal Horticultural Society, has created three unique garden themed itineraries featuring each destination, departing in 2017.

The Oregon Garden, designed to capture the natural beauty of the landscape of Oregon, takes inspiration from its mountain, wine country and scenic gorges.  The backdrop will be formed by rocky outcrops representing mountains, with a cascading water feature running through it. These outcrops will be planted with conifer trees, whilst the central area will be lined with grape vines representing the many vineyards found in Oregon.

The Charleston Garden will evoke the spirit, charm and elegance of Charleston, taking inspiration from its famous hidden gardens as well as it's sense of history and sub tropical climate. Walls and wrought iron railings will encompass the garden on three sides, giving visitors the feeling of viewing one of Charleston's beautiful hidden gardens. Planting will display a rich tapestry of greens, including sub tropical plants.

Capturing the natural beauty of the landscape and gardens in and around Austin, Texas, The Austin Garden design takes inspiration from the Lady Bird Wildflower Centre, Blackland Prairie and Edward Plateau, incorporating the plants and habitats of these areas including Echinacea, Acacia, Agave, Ratibida and Coreopsis.  Corten steel and sandstone, materials commonly used in the region, are incorporated into the design, with a structure made from aged, rusting scaffold poles topped with corrugated iron, and a water feature constructed from blocks of natural stone set in a circle supporting a Corten steel bowl forming focal points.  Pathways in the garden are constructed from crushed stone and reflect the colours of the natural stone found in the region, with boulders creating a feeling of the Texan landscape.

Journey Latin America's Inca Garden - the show's first ever Latin American Garden, has been inspired by the ancient Inca civilisation of Peru who were pioneers in botany and horticulture.  It evokes a sense of adventure, travel and discovery of a mysterious lost culture - the same emotions felt by explorer Hiram Bingham on his discovery of the 'lost' Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in 1911.  Thick native tropical plants surround the garden's entrance and hide a dramatic 3tiered terrace which echoes the famous Inca terraces, with intricate dry stone walling and the gentle sound of falling water.  The garden also celebrates 2016 as the year of the first direct flights linking London with Peru's capital Lima in more than 30 years, which are now being operated by British Airways.  Lima is the gateway to some of Latin America's greatest attractions, including Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.

The Route of the Camellia Garden, sponsored by Turismo de Galicia, celebrates the ancient route of the pilgrims travelling through Galicia towards Santiago de Compostela, with a trail through magnificent camellia gardens which form the romantic backdrop to this special corner of Spain known as 'Espagne Verde' (green Spain).  Designed by Rose McMonigall, the garden features a path of scallop shells leading visitors through a wild and romantic garden to the shrine of the Virgin Mary.  Here the ground is strewn with the crushed pink shells of St James of Santiago, symbolising camellia petals - encapsulating the magical feeling of this undiscovered part of the country.

Yet more European history is celebrated in 'Le Clos d'Hastings' - 1066 Country Medieval Garden.  To mark the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, the Parks and Gardens of Normandy and the District of Hastings 1066 has created a medieval-themed Norman garden.  Designed by Stephane Marie, the garden is divided into two distinct sections. The first part evokes the ancestral meadows on both sides of the Channel. Barley, flax, marguerites and mixed meadow flowers grow here. In the other half of the garden, a densely planted area is filled with plants from across the globe that the English and Normans, with their shared passion for gardening and botany, have enjoyed.

To buy tickets for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, visit: rhs.org.uk/flowershows.

- Ends -

Notes to editors:

For more information on World Gardens or RHS Garden Holidays, contact Sarah Bolam at sarahbolam2@rhs.org.uk or 07714 337756

For general information about the show, or images, contact Hattie Sherwood at hattiesherwood@rhs.org.uk or 0207 821 3044.

Images of the show are available on PhotoShelter. Registration is a simple process and free of charge. Please contact showspr@rhs.org.uk to gain access.

To apply for a media accreditation pass and for more information on the show, please visit http://press.rhs.org.uk

About RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (5 – 10 July 2016)

(4 July Preview Evening, 5 – 10.30pm; see below)

5 June – 6 July              RHS members only

7 – 10 July                    RHS members and non-members

5 July – 9 July               10am – 7.30pm

10 July                          10am – 5.30pm (sell off starts at 4.30pm)

Venue: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU

RHS show information: www.rhs.org.uk/shows

Ticket prices range from £14 to £38

Each full-paying adult may bring two children aged 16 and under free of charge to the show.

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Preview Evening, Monday 4 July 2016, 5 – 10.30pm

The Preview Evening is a wonderful, relaxed and magical evening. Visitors can spend time listening to live music with friends while viewing the beautiful gardens and floral displays before enjoying a range of dining options. The perfect finish to the evening is a magnificent fireworks display with the superb backdrop of Hampton Court Palace. Tickets start at just £58 for RHS members (£68 for non-members). Visit www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourtpreview for more information or call 0203 176 5850.

About the RHS

The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood to inspire passion and excellence in the science, art and practice of horticulture. Our vision is to enrich everyone's life through plants, and make the UK a greener, healthier, happier and more beautiful place. We believe everyone in every village, town and city should benefit from growing plants to enhance lives, build stronger, healthier, happier communities and create better places to live.

We held our first flower shows in 1820, were granted a Royal Charter in 1861 and acquired RHS Garden Wisley, our flagship garden, in 1903. From our first meetings in a small room off London's Piccadilly, we have grown to become the world's largest gardening charity. At our gardens and shows and through our scientific research, publications, libraries and our education and community programmes we inspire a passion for gardening and growing plants, promote the value of gardens, demonstrate how gardening is good for us and explain the vital roles that plants undertake.

The RHS is committed to bring the joy of gardening to millions more people, inspire the next generation of gardeners and invest in the future to safeguard a £16.8 billion industry employing more than 300,000 people. We are entirely funded by our members, visitors and supporters. RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and help us secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 020 3176 5810, or visit www.rhs.org.uk/join

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

*About Viking Cruises
Viking Cruises offers culturally enriching, destination-focused river and ocean cruises for travellers curious about the world, its rich culture and varied history. Viking Cruises takes its guests on curated, elegant voyages to some of the most iconic destinations in Europe, the Caribbean and the Far East, allowing a unique window on inspiring destinations and rewarding experiences. Featuring on-board cultural enrichment and included shore excursions, Viking's journeys are competitively priced for genuine value.

Since its 1997 inception the company has grown to become the world's leading operator with a fleet of 65 vessels, and in 2015 Viking debuted its maiden season of ocean cruising. The sophisticated state-of-the-art Viking Star and Viking Sea (debuting 2016) can each host 930 guests on itineraries that start from the brand's homeland in Scandinavia and the Baltic through to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean.

The most award-winning river cruise line, Viking has consistently won customer-voted and industry-recommended awards. The 2015 award season was the seventh consecutive year that Viking held onto the 'Best River Cruise Line' award at British Travel Awards. Most recently it won best River Cruise Company at the 2016 Travel Weekly Globe Awards for the third year in a row.

For additional information on Viking's River and Ocean offering, contact Viking Cruises 020 8780 7995 or visit the company at www.vikingcruises.co.uk.
Follow Viking River Cruises on Facebook www.facebook.com/VikingRiverCruisesUK
and Twitter www.twitter.com/vikingriveruk.

For more information or images contact the Viking Cruises press office, vikingcruises@edelman.com