Page contents
- Introduction
- Our vision
- The gardens
- The plants
- Funding
- Creativity in the community
- Sponsors and volunteers
Introduction
Showcasing innovative green spaces at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
Between the 1 and 6 July 2025 we’ll be showcasing three transformative garden designs at this year's Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
The designs, which will see ordinary car parking spaces converted into vibrant, functional green spaces, aim to inspire a shift in perception. They will show how spaces can be transformed from vehicle-dominated areas to places for people and nature.
This garden project is a collaborative effort. It is a journey that showcases the diverse teams and individuals who contribute to the design and construction of our streets. The garden designs follow the principles of the ‘Healthy Streets for Surrey’ code, an initiative aimed at creating healthier, more people-friendly streets through thoughtful, inclusive design.
We aim for this initiative to become a lasting legacy, enabling Surrey County Council to collaborate with communities to enhance their local streets, such as transforming parking spaces into more community-friendly areas.
Our vision
By transforming ordinary parking spaces into vibrant green areas, we want to highlight how urban spaces can support wildlife, manage water sustainably, and offer welcoming places for everyone. This project aims to create healthier streets in Surrey, encourage positive behaviour change, support mental wellbeing, and help build a greener future.
We planned, sponsored, and managed the creation of these gardens from start to finish to promote the Healthy Streets Design Code, which the council adopted in 2025. This new design code helps us shape streets and public spaces that put people, nature, and sustainability first.
Across Surrey’s high streets, towns, and villages, we work to improve the environment, support local businesses, celebrate local history, encourage public art, and create places that people feel proud of. We work closely with communities so that the spaces we create reflect the people who live and work there. By bringing everyone together, we can deliver projects better.
We have created small, low-maintenance gardens that bring big impact to urban areas. Whether in a temporary or permanent location, they add colour and interest all year long. These gardens show what’s possible when we all work together to connect communities in a sustainable and affordable way.
The gardens
Standard parking bay
What this garden shows
This garden includes a standard parking bay, like the thousands you see across Surrey. A key feature of the garden is the visual contrast it presents. Side by side, visitors will see an ordinary car parking space with a vehicle next to transformed parking spaces with planting and seating. The side-by-side view will highlight how such transformations can uplift and enhance urban areas and how much more we can get out of our streets.
Who helped with this garden
Local business Walton Audi lent us a brand-new, electric Audi Q4 to represent a typical car parked on a Surrey street. By using an all-electric model, we are recognising that cars will always be part of our lives while promoting a more sustainable alternative option to petrol and diesel vehicles.
Ringway provided materials including bollards, tarmac and the parking sign, and helped build the garden, including laying the tarmac. Students from North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT) also worked alongside Ringway to help construct parts of this garden.
M Group Highways donated the streetlight on display, helping visitors imagine what a real streetscape could look like.
Where this garden will go after the show
The vehicle will be returned to Walton Audi for resale. The black bollards, kerbs, and parking sign will go back to Ringway to be used on real streets across Surrey. The streetlight will be reused by M Group Highways in another Surrey location and the tarmac for the surface will be broken down and recycled into a base material for future projects.
Walton parklet
What this garden shows
The Walton parklet transforms a parking space into a vibrant, people-centric area with places to sit, relax, and connect with others. It includes 12 planters with built-in seating made from polyester powder coated steel and timber, so people are surrounded by greenery while sitting near the road. There is also a table with a chess board to encourage people of all ages to come together and play or simply enjoy lunch. The seating area is wheelchair accessible, so anyone can sit around the table comfortably.
What plants we've used
The plants in this garden includes species that help clean the air by absorbing vehicle pollution. Hardy plants like Cotoneaster, known for capturing carbon, are mixed with pollinator-friendly plants like Ivy. Two feature trees, Forest Pansy and Acer provide shade, and offer a cool, relaxing spot for people to rest and improve wellbeing.
The Walton garden is filled with purple flowers, reflecting the colours of Walton Business Improvement District (BID), who work to make the town more welcoming and vibrant.
Who helped with this garden
This parklet was designed by the council and we put the planting list together, working with Meristem Design and Love Walton Business Improvement District (BID). Meristem Design constructed the planters and seating, including sourcing and planting the plants, and will also take down and relocate the garden after the show.
Where this garden will go after the show
This parklet will be moved to New Zealand Avenue in Walton, where it will be set up in a straight line to fit the space on the pavement. Love Walton BID has created a not-for-profit company to manage and maintain the garden. They’ll handle the day-to-day care of the plants and planters so the public can continue to enjoy the space. This project leaves a lasting legacy by bringing the community together, helping people make new friends and giving volunteers a chance to learn new skills and practise gardening.
Cranleigh garden
What this garden shows
This rain garden transforms a regular parking space into a sustainable green area that helps manage rainwater and reduce flooding. In cities, rainwater often has nowhere to go because of all the concrete and tarmac, which can lead to flooding and pollution. Rain gardens are a simple solution that mimic natural drainage by soaking up rainwater, filtering out pollutants, and helping it slowly return to the ground.
The garden includes special kerbs with gaps that let water run off the road and into the planted area. It’s filled with plant species that thrive in both dry and wet conditions, showing how urban spaces can be more resilient to climate change while supporting wildlife and improving water quality.
A path made of slabs and stepping stones lets people walk through the garden and encourages “play on the way”, a fun way to make walking more enjoyable. Rustic log benches made from a fallen tree, provide natural spots to rest and bug hotels made from bamboo help attract bees, butterflies, and ladybirds, showing how small changes can support biodiversity.
By combining greenery, smart water management, and space for people and wildlife, this garden shows how we can rethink our streets to be healthier, more sustainable, and more enjoyable for everyone.
What plants we've used
The plants in this rain garden were carefully chosen to thrive in both wet and dry conditions. It includes moisture-loving plants like Salvia and Roma that help soak up rainwater from the road. Other plants, such as Willow-leaved Loosestrife and Brazilian Vervain, can handle drier conditions once they’re established. There’s also a birch tree that thrives in wet soil but can also cope with dry spells, adding height and shade to the garden.
Who helped with this garden
This garden and the planting selection was designed by AtkinsRealis, who worked alongside the council. Ringway and students from NESCOT helped build and will later take down the garden for the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2025.
The bug hotels have been created by young people from the youth offer team at Ash Youth Centre.
Where this garden will go after the show
The plants will be relocated in rain gardens being built in Fountain Square, Cranleigh. The wooden stepping stones will go back to the council to be used in ‘play on the way’ schemes. The wooden log seating will be recycled, and the kerbs will be returned to Ringway to use in other schemes.
Guildford parklet
What this garden shows
The Guildford parklet transforms a parking space into a vibrant area for birds, wildlife, and people, using reclaimed materials. The parklet includes planters with built-in seating providing a comfortable pleasant space for people to rest, socialise and interact with nature. A bird bath, made from an old highways sign, collects rainwater through bamboo tubes that also water the plants. This shows how simple ideas can help manage water in a sustainable way.
The garden features two canopies. One has been created from a repurposed parachute to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the rain. The water run-off from this parachute will also fall into the birdbath. The other canopy has been created by jasmine growing around a timber structure, creating resting spots for birds and wildlife. The garden features pollinator-attracting plants, promoting biodiversity.
What plants we've used
The Guildford garden is full of colour and scent, with plants chosen to brighten the space and support wildlife. Deep red Masterwort, sweet-smelling Star Jasmine, and sky-blue blooms from Geraniums bring variety and vibrancy. Marmalade adds warm tones with hot pink undersides, while Jack Frost shows off silver leaves with green veins. These plants not only look beautiful, they’re also low maintenance, help cover the ground and attract bees and other pollinators.
The planting was designed Molly Klemova-White, from Surrey’s Youth Offer team, and colleagues from the council.
Who helped with this garden
The initial design of this garden was created by volunteers from the Rosamund community garden. Designers from Atkins Realis and the council built on this to create the garden on display at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2025. Molly Klemova-White alongside colleagues in the Youth Offer Service helped to grow and advise on the plants used in this parklet.
The repurposed oak wood, used to construct the timber planters and benches were donated by the flood and resilience team, demonstrating sustainability.
This garden is also a great example of teamwork. The Youth Offer Team at Surrey County Council guided young people in building the benches and planters, giving them hands-on experience and the chance to see their work featured at both the flower show and later in Guildford town centre. The team also helped turn an old highways sign into a bird bath.
Where this garden will go after the show
After the show, the garden will be relocated to Phoenix Court in Guildford town centre. This location will provide a perfect setting for the garden, allowing visitors to enjoy its beauty and tranquillity amidst the bustling town and bringing vibrancy into the area. Experience Guildford (BID) will help to organise the maintenance of the plants.
The plants
The Surrey Youth Offer team have supported the planting for the show garden, growing some from seed and looking after the plants. Plants were purchased from local nurseries, supporting small businesses in Surrey and reducing our carbon footprint. We also grew Cosmos, from seed, to show that communities can get involved and produce good quality plants with minimal resources and expertise.
All the plants that have been grown and purchased will be relocated to Guildford, Walton and Cranleigh.
We used peat free compost made in our recycling centre at Chertsey for the plants and for the compost in the show. The compost was made from Surrey residents' food and garden waste.
Trees and Shrubs
Field Maple - Acer Campestre
Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
Franchet's cotoneaster - Cotoneaster franchetii
Bay Tree - Laurus nobilis
Mountain Pine - Pinus mugo
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis
Yew - Taxus baccata
Herbaceous perennials
Perennial Wallflower - Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve'
English Ivy- Hedera helix
Rose Campion - Lychnis coronaria
Maidenhair vine - Muehlenbeckia complexa
Lambs Ear - Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'
Mullein - Verbascum 'Pink Domino'
Mullein - Verbascum 'Gainsborough'
Trees and Shrubs
River Birch - Betula nigra
Mexican Orange Blossom - Choysia Aztec Pearl
Herbaceous perennials
Pheasant's tail grass - Anemanthele lesonianna
Masterwort - Astrantia 'Roma'
Montbretia - Crocosmia 'Buttercup'
Tufted hair grass - Deschampsia cespitosa 'Golden Veil'
Daylily - Hemerocallis ''Catherine Woodbury'
Sedge - Carex
Willow-leaved loosestrife - Lysimachia ephemerum
Ostrich fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris
Caradonna sage - Salvia Caradonna
Ninebark - Physocarpus
Purpletop vervain - Verbena bonariensis
Calla Lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica
False Goats Beard - Astilbe
Knotweed - Persicaria
Cardinal Flower - Lobella
Anise Hyssop - Agastache
Trees and Shrubs
Black Elder - Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'
Star Jasmine - Trachelospermum jasminoides
Herbaceous perennials
Masterwort - Astrantia Major 'Claret'
Masterwort - Astrantia Major 'Star of Love'
Japanese Thimbleweed - Japanese Anemone
Cranesbill - Geranium 'Johnsons Blue'
Giant Blue Hosta - Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans'
Coral Bells - Heuchera lime Marmelade
Coral Bells - Heuchera 'Marmalade'
Ladys Mantle - Alchemilla mollis
Siberian Bugloss - Brunnera 'Jack Frost'
Siberian Bugloss - Brunnera 'Variegata'
Bishops hat - Epimedium 'Orange Queen'
Pheasants Tail Grass - Anemanthele lessoniana
Wood Spurge - Euphobia amydaloides 'Purpurea'
Soft Caress Mahonia - Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'
Soft Shield Fern - Polystichum setiferum
Foamflower - Tiarella
Funding
The Walton Garden has been funded by development related funding collected within Elmbridge.
The planting has been funded from the Community Infrastructure Levy and Waverley BC that is a combination of public and development related funding. The planting will be reused in Cranleigh, after the show.
Surrey Hills national landscape who works closely with the Surrey Youth Offer team were able to provide some funding to be put towards various materials. They have constructed the planters at zero cost.
AtkinsRealis, Ringway and NESCOT students have all contributed their time and materials at zero cost. In addition, the vehicle from Walton Audi has been provided at zero cost.
Creativity in the community
Art backdrop
For the backdrop, we teamed up with Year 8 art students from Guildford County School to create the colourful mural on display at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2025. We gave the school a blank backdrop, and the students designed and painted their own ideas inspired by nature and wildlife.
Art can brighten up spaces, making them feel more welcoming and safer, especially in the darker winter months.
Painted bollards
At the front of our gardens, we’ll display brightly painted bollards, placed next to standard black ones to highlight the contrast. This shows how simple touches of art can be added to our streets to make them more welcoming, colourful, and interesting.
They were designed by local artist Kathy Plank. After the show, the painted bollards will be moved to Cranleigh High Street to join others that have been on display since 2022, commissioned by Cranleigh Arts.
Fence birds
As part of the garden, we wanted to showcase how materials can be reused and recycled on both a large and small scale. We collected recyclable materials from home and Caroline Sims-Mcdonald worked with the young people at the Ash Youth Centre, to use these materials to create "Fence Birds."
They repurposed old fencing to create the body of the birds and were decorated with collected tin cans, jar lids and bottle tops. They have been displayed around the garden.
Sponsors and volunteers
From the very beginning, our aim was to design and build this garden by working closely with local residents, suppliers, and organisations. Many different people and groups, each bringing their own skills and ideas, have helped make this garden a reality. It shows what we can achieve when we all work together towards a shared goal.
Below is a list of the people and organisations who have supported and helped create these gardens. Each has contributed time, materials, and expertise to bring the vision to life, from constructing planters and painting display boards to transporting materials and planting greenery. This project would not have been possible without you.
AtkinsRéalis is a design company that connects people, data, and technology to improve infrastructure and energy systems around the world. AtkinsRéalis has worked with Surrey County Council for many years, designing highways and other infrastructure projects. For this project, they generously shared their time and expertise to help bring the garden design to life.
AtkinsRealis designers, Steve Dimmock and Diego Carillo, also volunteered their design expertise throughout the development of the gardens and helped create the final 3D illustrations.
The Audi Group is among the world’s leading producers of premium cars. Audi Walton lent us an all-electric Audi Q4 e-tron car to use in the show.
Envar Composting are based at Surrey's recycling centre in Chertsey. Envar have contributed by donating peat free compost, used to grow the plants.
Experience Guildford supported us in finding a space to locate the parklet in Guildford.
Year 8 art students at Guildford County School designed and painted the art mural for the backdrop of the garden. The students used their creativity to come up with ideas and designs based on the theme of nature and plants.
Kathy Plank is a local Cranleigh artist and has painted the bollards that can be seen on display in the gardens and will be relocated to Cranleigh High Street. Kathy has worked with a number of local groups in Cranleigh including Scouts, Guides, Rowleys and Friday Night project.
Littlethorpe are one of our suppliers for bus shelters across Surrey. The bus shelter used in the activation zone at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2025 will be relocated to a project in Ash and the planters from Littlethorpe will be relocated to Shere.
Meristem Design delivers high-quality sustainable projects that place nature at the forefront to bring benefits to people, communities and the environment.
They have designed and constructed the Walton parklet, and supported with the planting. They will also relocate the garden from the show to its new location in Walton.
M G Highways provide comprehensive highway services, including road construction, maintenance, and asset management. With over 20 years of experience, they are dedicated to improving the UK’s road network to ensure safety, efficiency, and sustainability. In Surrey, they have been used to provide street lighting and other illuminated street furniture.
They donated the streetlight used in the garden show.
Ringway work safely, efficiently and effectively to deliver highways services. They manage and maintain the largest portfolio of highways service contracts in the UK, covering over 43,000km of strategic and local highway network on behalf of National Highways, Transport for London, and local authorities. Ringway manage and maintain Surrey's highway network and construct infrastructure projects across the county.
Ringway have constructed part of the garden alongside students from NESCOT at zero cost.
Rosamund Community Garden is a quiet paradise in Pewley Down, off Longdown Road. The garden is open all year round to members and they welcome visitors. The total area of the site is 19 acres, used to grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers.
Volunteers, Loveday Craigwood and Helen Harris, helped design the Guildford parklet.
Surrey Hills is one of 34 national landscapes in England. The team have been enhancing access to these protected places and bringing elements of their special qualities to other communities. They helped coordinate volunteers from the Youth Offer team and have supported with materials.
Molly Klemova-White and Gareth Palmer have also helped to grow various plants for the show in their polytunnels. Both their knowledge and skills have been invaluable.
The Walton BID helped with finding a space for the location of the Walton parklet and Walton Green and Bloom will be maintaining the planting in this garden.