Celebrated show garden champions sustainability, innovation, and rainforest conservation with a powerful visual statement.
Subaru UK & Ireland has emerged as a standout force at the 2025 RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, with its visionary ‘Subaru Cocoon’ garden collecting a haul of prestigious accolades including Best Show Garden, Best Construction (Show Garden), the RHS Environmental Innovation Award, a coveted RHS Gold Medal, and the festival’s most sought-after honour, the Tudor Rose Award.
Crafted in collaboration with acclaimed designers Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews of Mike McMahon Studio, and brought to life by the expert team at Big Fish Landscapes, the Subaru Cocoon garden captivated both judges and visitors alike. More than a botanical spectacle, this immersive space delivers a poignant conservation message: the urgent need to protect the UK and Ireland’s vanishing temperate rainforests — a habitat that once covered 20% of the region and now clings to survival at less than 1%.
A Living Manifesto for Endangered Ecosystems
Inspired by these critically endangered woodlands, the Cocoon garden is a sculptural sanctuary that embraces serenity while raising ecological awareness. Sculpted with sustainability at its core, the space invites visitors into a multi-sensory journey — a contemplative environment that echoes the quiet majesty of the rainforest.
“We are thrilled The Subaru Cocoon garden has received outstanding levels of recognition,” said Lorraine Bishton, Managing Director at Subaru UK & Ireland. “It supports our mission of highlighting the beauty and fragility of our native rainforests, while underlining our wider commitment to sustainability, protection, and respect for the natural world — values that resonate deeply with our customers.”
This ethos is more than aesthetic. It’s embedded in every design decision. At its heart lies a striking curved Jali wall — a perforated architectural screen that honours co-designer Jewlsy Mathews’ South Indian heritage. The wall is constructed using 4,500 Kenoteq K-Briqs, an innovative brick alternative made from over 95% recycled construction waste. Compared to conventional fired bricks, K-Briqs emit 95% less carbon and offer a sustainable model for modern architecture. In total, the project diverted 9.45 tonnes of waste from landfill, preventing nearly 2,000 kilograms of CO₂ emissions — the same amount 80 mature trees would absorb in a year.
Immersion Rooted in Ecology
The garden’s composition further reinforces its message. A mirror-like water threshold replaces a traditional gate, drawing visitors inward to explore a world of texture, shadow, and reflection. Cantilevered trunks of fallen native trees, planted with mosses and ferns, evoke a sense of raw woodland renewal. Every species has been carefully chosen: Silver Birch, Scots Pine, and thirteen species of fern feature prominently, all sourced from the UK and Ireland. Layered like a natural forest, the planting design creates a biodiverse microcosm that encourages contemplation and connection to the land.
“This recognition is a testament to the power of gardens to stir hearts, spark change, and celebrate the profound beauty of our living world,” said designers Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews. “We wanted to illuminate the quiet magic of the rainforest and the urgency with which we must protect it.”
The judges at Hampton Court agreed. The Subaru Cocoon garden was singled out not just for its design excellence, but for its seamless integration of sustainability, cultural storytelling, and ecological education — a rare blend that placed it among the most celebrated gardens in the festival’s long and distinguished history.
From Temporary Installation to Lasting Legacy
The story doesn’t end at Hampton Court. As part of Subaru’s long-term sustainability vision, the Cocoon garden will find a second home with Horatio’s Garden, a charity dedicated to creating restorative outdoor spaces for people affected by spinal injury. This ensures the garden continues its legacy beyond the showgrounds — offering solace, inspiration, and a gentle reminder of what’s at stake when nature is overlooked.
In both its physical form and philosophical intent, the Subaru Cocoon garden mirrors the values embodied in Subaru’s all-electric Solterra SUV: quiet strength, responsible exploration, and a deep respect for the environments we move through.
With this ambitious project, Subaru UK & Ireland has not only claimed the highest accolades at the world’s largest annual flower show — it has also carved out a new benchmark for how brands can authentically and meaningfully engage with the planet’s most urgent environmental conversations.
