‘Astonishingly Clever’ SCC Show Garden Wins Silver for Turning Parking Spaces Green

Published on: 2 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 6 Jul, 2025

SCC Show Garden Wins Silver for Turning Parking Spaces Green

By Esme Campbell

A show garden displaying how parking spaces can be converted into green areas won a silver medal at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

Created by Surrey County Council (SCC), the garden showcased alternative, environmental uses for parking spaces, with three car-sized areas demonstrating varying aspects of sustainability.

The Walton parklet

The Walton parklet focuses on air quality, with plants and trees to filter pollutants and provide shade and shelter, whilst the Cranleigh rain garden exhibits sustainable drainage and limiting flood risks, using climate-resilient flora to manage stormwater.

The Guildford parklet celebrating biodiversity

The Guildford parklet, fashioned from reclaimed materials, celebrates biodiversity. It features pollinator-friendly plants, bird baths and play elements to unite people and wildlife. 

Matt Furniss, SCC’s Cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said that receiving the medal “reflects the ambition for our towns and villages that Surrey County Council is showcasing this week.”

Cllr Matt Furniss

“The show garden demonstrates how we can provide a better balance between roads and pedestrians in our town centres and provide attractive and functional areas which will encourage people to visit, stay longer and support our vital local economies.

“But they also show how local government, volunteers and the private sector can work together to design and create community spaces, offering vital training to our young people along the way.”

All three parking spaces will be moved to Surrey’s streets after the festival.

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