This summer, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Hampshire, near Romsey, is hosting a vibrant programme of performances with an international touring circus, nature trails, and art installations – all using bamboo grown and harvested from the Gardens.

Running until 7 September, the ‘Summer of Bamboo’ celebrates Sir Harold Hillier Gardens’ extensive collection of bamboo species, unique in the UK, with an exhibition of artworks; a bamboo art bench; two different Bamboo Trails; and performances of BAMBOO, an outdoor circus show produced by NoFit State Circus, the UK’s leading contemporary circus company.

Clare Goddard, Director, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, said:
“The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is very proud to present our first ‘Summer of Bamboo’, in collaboration with Imagine Bamboo, Brilliant Bamboo and NoFit State Circus. The artworks and outdoor circus performance epitomise the beautiful and vital connection between horticulture and creativity, nature and storytelling, themes that lie at the heart of ‘Summer of Bamboo’. That they are created from the Gardens’ own bamboo make it even more special and we look forward to many visitors, sitting, enjoying, and reflecting on the magical properties of bamboo and to leave inspired by our collaboration.”

Programme details:

BAMBOO: A Circus Show Like No Other (see images in notes section)

BAMBOO, directed by Mish Weaver, is a joyful, high-energy outdoor show where artists build an ever-changing, improbable playground out of bamboo. The circus performances and artworks, created as part of the national Imagine Bamboo project, are all made with bamboo canes grown and harvested at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens. Touring nationally and internationally in 2024 and 2025, this is the first time they have been presented so close to their parent plants – allowing visitors to see the direct relationship between this incredibly strong and flexible grass and the plants growing in the Gardens.

Performance dates:

Performances of NoFit State’s BAMBOO circus show will take place on Wednesday 20 August and Thursday 21 August.

These performances are FREE with normal gardens’ admission tickets or Sir Harold Hillier Gardens’ membership. Pre-buy day entry tickets and guarantee parking space via this link. 

Day entry tickets will be available to purchase on the day; however, car parking is limited, so pre-purchasing tickets is recommended.

Shows at 12pm and 4pm.

Performance times may be subject to change or cancellation due to adverse weather conditions.

Summer of Bamboo is a collaboration between Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Imagine Bamboo, Brilliant Bamboo, NoFit State Circus, Atelier One structural engineers, and the Bamboo in the UK group – an informal network of professionals who champion the potential of bamboo.

Image provided and copyright by Luke Witcomb Photography