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‘The Subaru Cocoon’ Garden to be unveiled

‘The Subaru Cocoon’ Garden to be unveiled: Subaru UK & Ireland is set to unveil ‘The Subaru Cocoon’ garden at the prestigious RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025, which runs from 1st- 6th July.

The installation, created by award-winning designers Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews of Mike McMahon Studio, with the Subaru Cocoon Garden reflecting a sculptural, sensory refuge, inspired by the UK and Ireland’s vanishing temperate rainforests.

'The Subaru Cocoon' Garden to be unveiled

‘The Subaru Cocoon’ Garden to be unveiled

Once covering 20% of Britain, these lush, biodiverse ecosystems have now dwindled to less than 1%, making them one of the UK’s most threatened habitats. The Subaru Cocoon draws attention to this quiet crisis, reimagining the traditional walled garden as a sanctuary of both protection and ecological memory.

The display will sit in a prominent position within the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace. The six-day festival is expected to welcome over 140,000 horticultural enthusiasts to the Palace gardens in west London for a celebration of garden designs, floral displays, and a wide range of other family-friendly activities.

Lorraine Bishton, Managing Director at Subaru UK & Ireland said: “The Subaru Cocoon’ garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival supports our commitments to safety and sustainability, whilst showcasing this beautiful, but threatened native habitat.

We know our customers also have a strong connection to nature and are engaged with initiatives that raise awareness of environmental responsibility.

We are delighted that following the show, the garden will provide a legacy supporting the inspirational charity Horatio’s Garden.”

The Cocoon garden reflects Subaru’s commitment to sustainability, care, and considered movement – values shared across both brand and garden installation. Just as Subaru supports responsible exploration through electric innovation, with the zero-tailpipe emission, all-wheel-drive Subaru Solterra, the garden offers a place of refuge that treads lightly on the land. Both prioritise harmony with the natural world. At their core, they both share a quiet belief in elegant, considered design to live better, prioritising awareness and beauty while simultaneously minimising unwanted impact.

The Subaru Cocoon Garden features a striking curved Jali wall – a perforated architectural screen that honours co-designer Jewlsy Mathews’ South Indian heritage – made from 4,500 innovative Kenoteq K-Briqs. These revolutionary building materials are manufactured from over 95% recycled construction waste and emit 95% less carbon than traditional fired bricks. The Jali wall doubles as a super-sized ‘insect hotel’, its porous structure supporting microhabitats across the site. By using sustainable bricks, the garden project has diverted 9.45 tonnes of construction waste from landfill and saved 1,972 kg of CO₂ emissions – equivalent to the amount of CO2 80 mature trees would absorb over a full year. This innovative approach to biodiversity follows Mike McMahon Studio’s RHS Chelsea Gold Medal-winning garden in 2024.

In lieu of a traditional walled garden door, a reflective water threshold —a symbolic cleansing—leads into a cool, immersive landscape of texture and shadow. Cantilevered fallen tree trunks hover dramatically above the wall, planted with native epiphytes in a bold interpretation of the forest’s “chop-and-drop” cycle, where decaying wood returns nutrients to the soil. The planting scheme features exclusively native species from the UK and Ireland, including thirteen species of fern, Silver Birch, and Scots Pine, structured in forest-like layers to celebrate the rich biodiversity of Britain’s temperate rainforests.

Mike McMahon of Mike McMahon Studio said: “The UK and Ireland’s temperate rainforest is a landscape that’s both ecologically rich and tragically overlooked – something we wanted to highlight with the Subaru Cocoon Garden. This type of installation has never been created at Hampton Court Palace before; it felt like the right moment to highlight the fragile epiphytes and micro-ecosystems that thrive in these endangered environments.”

“The garden is enveloped by a circular brick jali wall that frames the plants, plays with light and shadow, and invites you to look through and around, like you’re glimpsing through trees. Sustainability isn’t an add-on, it’s embedded in every decision we’ve made, from using zero concrete to ensuring all elements are reusable or relocatable once the show ends.”

As part of Subaru’s commitment to sustainability, the garden will be given a second life after the festival with plans to repurpose it to Horatio’s Garden charity, ensuring the installation continues to inspire and provide a place to nurture the wellbeing of people beyond the event.

For more information on the Subaru range, including the all-electric Solterra, visit www.subaru.co.uk

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STIGA Robots empower groundskeepers to be heroes

STIGA Robots empower groundskeepers to be heroes: Groundsweek, held from March 17th to 23rd, is a nationwide celebration of the dedicated professionals who keep sports fields and green spaces in top condition.

Now, these experts have a game-changing tool in their arsenal—STIGA’s cutting-edge autonomous robot mowers—helping them achieve flawless results with less effort!

STIGA Robots empower groundskeepers to be heroes

STIGA Robots empower groundskeepers to be heroes

With precise, systematic cutting patterns, these innovative robotic mowers optimise battery life, reduce mowing time, and enhance the beauty of any lawn. At first, some professionals were sceptical—could a robot truly match the performance of a walk-behind mower? Would it replace their jobs? But the results speak for themselves. Groundskeepers and gardeners who’ve adopted these robots wouldn’t go back! These machines free up valuable time for other tasks, all while delivering a superior cut. In fact, many users have grown so fond of their robotic assistants that they’ve even given them names—say hello to Simon!

Smart Lawn Care, Tailored To You

STIGA’s intelligent AGS technology ensures each session is carefully planned, adjusting to satellite signal strength for consistent, even coverage. GPS-RTK technology guarantees pinpoint accuracy, keeping mowing paths precise and efficient.

Through the STIGA.GO App, users can customize their mowing experience with:

  • Cutting patterns: Parallel, chequerboard, or grid.
  • Zone settings: Define unique cutting heights, patterns, and mowing priorities for different areas.
  • Real-time connectivity: 4G-enabled communication between the mower, satellites, and antenna ensures uninterrupted performance.

2025: The Future of Effortless Smart Gardening

STIGA’s latest innovations take convenience to the next level:

  • Dark Mode for better app visibility.
  • Signal Checker to find the optimal GPS antenna spot.
  • Over-the-Air Updates for automatic software enhancements.
  • Lightning-Fast Setup: One-minute pairing, self-calibrating reference station, and easy controls.
  • Remote Garden Sketching (Coming March 2025!): Define mowing boundaries online—no need to step outside!

Stay in Control, Anytime, Anywhere

  • Live Mowing Progress & Notifications keep you updated.
  • In-App Support offers step-by-step guidance.
  • Intelligent Navigation detects obstacles and manages zones efficiently.

Choose the Perfect STIGA Robot For Your Lawn

Model Coverage Area Price

With STIGA’s advanced automation and smart planning, the future of lawn care is here!

Find out more and buy your robot from STIGA retailers and on the official STIGA website: www.stiga.com/uk.

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ISEKI UK proud to be part of Watcombe’s journey

ISEKI UK proud to be part of Watcombe’s journey: Seventeen months ago, a new under-14 girls’ football team was started in South Devon for girls’ who were unhappy at their current clubs.

Fast forward a season and a half, and Watcombe Wanderers have won promotion in their first season and now have two teams whose kits are proudly sponsored by ISEKI UK and Ireland.

ISEKI UK proud to be part of Watcombe's journey

ISEKI UK proud to be part of Watcombe’s journey

In September 2023, team manager Martin Campbell, a fully licenced coach, was approached to start the team, and during the recruitment process, he received a message from ISEKI Vehicle Sales Manager Phil Catley about his daughter, Maddie.

After starting the season late due to not having enough players, Maddie and the other girls quickly formed a formidable team, eventually finishing second on the last day of the season to claim promotion to Division Two.

With the football side of the team performing beyond expectations, Martin wanted to build the team’s identity with new kits and hoodies before they started their second season. To do this, he sent a message to the parents, and Phil replied.

“They were playing like footballers, so we wanted them to look like footballers,” Martin said. “It can seem like a small thing, but before I joined the ambulance service I was in the service industry for 25 years in sales. Every time you put on a new suit, you feel like someone; you feel like something, and that’s what I wanted for the girls with their own kit.

“Like any grassroots club, we rely on volunteers and parents to drive the club, and when it came to kit sponsorship, we asked the parents, and Phil came forward and said I might be able to help.

“Like anything, people come forward with good intentions, but we all sat here thinking, ‘Why is a big national company going to be interested in a little backstreet girls’ football team on the outskirts of Newton Abbott.’

“But the response from ISEKI was positive, and they sponsored two kits and hoodies for the girls, and I have to say they look outstanding.

Without the sponsorship from ISEKI, the girls wouldn’t be able to play football with a nice kit on their backs and be proud of them. They wear the hoodies when they go to school or when they’re walking down the street with their mum and dad. So, what might seem like a small thing has made a significant difference to our team.

We are currently placed second in the second division and are chasing promotion to the first division, which will be a massive achievement for a new team to go from third division to first division in two years.”

“Women’s football is enjoying massive growth these days, so to be able to support an up-and-coming grassroots team is something to be very proud of especially with the amount of work we do with the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service in advising on the supply of machinery to local sports clubs” said Alan Prickett Sales Director of ISEKI Uk & Ireland.

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STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest: STIGA will be exhibiting at GroundsFest on 10th and 11th September. They will be showing a cross range of garden machinery from the STIGA, Mountfield and ATCO brands highlighting the new product ranges and upgrades for the 2025 season…10-4 Roger that!

But why do we sound like something from Smokey and the Bandit?  Well, the STIGA touring truck will be on site showcasing the extensive range of battery tools, mowers and the popular autonomous robot mower range – products to suit novice gardeners right up to professional users.

STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

And not forgetting the large petrol range which includes the iconic petrol-powered Park Pro front mower that offers supreme cutting quality, exceptional performance and unbeatable manoeuvrability – perfect for cutting complex large areas. To the STIGA battery powered Gyro, with a 360° turning circle and unique drive-by-wire joystick controls which can mow grass quickly and efficiently.

The STIGA team have invited their large dealer network to the event and will be unveiling the new upgraded Mountfield tractors for 2025 plus a few other surprises.

During the show STIGA will be holding a competition to win their award-winning battery pruners SC 100e.  Make sure you visit stand OSA 790, chat with the team and simply pop your name into the raffle. The draw will be held at 11.30 and 3.30 daily and 4 lucky people each day will receive this fantastic prize to take away with them.

Plus, every entry will also be included in an end of Show draw, where one lucky winner will win a SWIFT 372e battery garden ride-on.

GroundFest is the largest annual, must-attend event for grounds staff, greenkeepers, landcapers, designers & architects, gardeners, local authorities, estate managers and contractors as well as specialist garden machinery dealerships.

Registration is FREE, it is not too late to register.  www.groundfest.com

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MM Seed to be showcased at GroundsFest

MM Seed to be showcased at GroundsFest: An impressive range of MM grass seed mixtures will be showcased at GroundsFest 2024, and visitors will get the chance to find out how the innovative seed technology could vastly benefit their sports pitches.

Here’s a snapshot of just some of the mixtures on display at GroundsFest.

MM Seed to be showcased at GroundsFest

MM Seed to be showcased at GroundsFest

MM50

MM50 is perfect for cricket squares, tennis courts and also golf tees and fairways. This hard-wearing mix has rapid germination, extremely fine leaved appearance, high shoot density and is tolerant to very close mowing, as low as 5mm, along with high disease resistance. All these attributes together produce a fantastic sward.

MM60

MM60 is a 100% Ryegrass formula and the UK’s leading winter sports renovation mixture. It is well-known for its extremely fast germination and its high wear tolerance, fast recovery plus excellent disease resistance.

MM Tetrasport

A Tetraploid based Ryegrass mixture, especially useful for seeding and overseeding of high quality sportsfields to improve sward composition, disease resistance with fast recovery from play and damage. Tetraploid Ryegrasses also provide high drought tolerance along with good colour.

All mixtures in the MM range, are treated with HEADSTART® GOLD – a revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid, even germination.

PRO Flora Wild Flower & Colour Boost Flower Seed Mixtures

Pro Flora is a range of Native Origin Wildflower Mixtures that can bring colour, biodiversity and interest to any landscape area and also benefit the environment, pollinators and conservation.

Colour Boost is a range of high impact flower mixtures designed to create a dazzling display of colour and interest in many different landscape’s sites and situations.

If you are seeking advice for your natural turf projects – no matter how big or small, then pay a visit to the DLF stand where the MM Sports Seed specialist team will be on hand.

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed.

You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed.

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