About the Garden
Reimagine the traditional home office as a thriving indoor ecosystem. This curated ‘Dark Academia’ botanical showcase blends heritage design with maximalist greenery, pairing deep-toned foliage with the timeless charm of a rustic study.
At the centre, a weathered wooden desk and leather chair act as grounding anchors for an immersive indoor jungle. Vertical layering creates a canopy effect, with trailing pothos and climbing philodendrons cascading from above, while architectural specimens like the ZZ ‘Raven’ and statement monstera frame the workspace with dramatic texture.
Designed for modern hybrid living, this display demonstrates how to transform any office or study into a lush, restorative, intentional workspace.
Design Inspiration and Purpose
This design was inspired by the evolution of the home office, a shift away from sterile, screen‑bound environments toward Biophilic design. Drawing from the rising ‘New Work From Home’ movement, this exhibit reimagines the workspace as a sanctuary designed for both mental clarity and physical wellbeing.
By blending the tactile warmth of a rustic study with the scientific principles behind NASA’s clean‑air research, The Scholar’s Jungle explores the concept of the bio‑bureau. Oxygen‑boosting Sansevieria, humidity-regulating ferns, toxin‑absorbing pothos, and other high‑performance species act as living air-purifiers, offering natural support against digital fatigue. A weathered wooden desk and vintage leather chair provide a grounding sense of heritage, traditional anchors made more vital and vibrant when surrounded by an oxygen‑rich canopy of deep, waxy foliage.
Why The Scholar’s Jungle Matters in 2026:
1. The Post‑Pandemic Home Office Maturity
Hybrid work has become a permanent fixture of UK life, with ONS data showing sustained long‑term adoption. As makeshift setups evolve into enduring personal workspaces, this exhibit shows how to create a high‑design, wellness‑centred home office, one that supports focus, wellbeing, and daily ritual.
2. The Peat‑Free Transition
With the UK’s peat ban now fully in effect, The Scholar’s Jungle showcases a flourishing indoor ecosystem grown entirely in peat‑free media. It acts as a practical, inspiring blueprint for the public and directly aligns with RHS goals for environmental responsibility and sustainable horticulture.
3. The Natural Health Service & Green Social Prescribing
Across the UK, clinicians are increasingly prescribing plant interaction to combat burnout, stress, and digital overload. This exhibit highlights how indoor plants can lower blood pressure, improve cognitive function, and restore energy, transforming the workspace into a therapeutic micro‑environment.
4. Urban Micro‑Forestry for Small Spaces
As homes become smaller and gardens less accessible, dense indoor planting is emerging as a key design trend. The Scholar’s Jungle demonstrates how to create a high‑density canopy in the footprint of a desk, bringing the principles of urban biodiversity and living walls into everyday interiors.
Sustainability
This design has been built with intention. Every element, from reclaimed timber and pre‑loved leather to 100% peat‑free compost, biodegradable pots, heritage containers, and self‑watering planters, reflects a commitment to low‑impact, future‑forward horticulture.
The Scholar’s Jungle demonstrates that a high‑design bio‑bureau can be created without compromising the planet. By anchoring the exhibit with a reclaimed wooden desk and vintage leather chair, it champions a circular economy where restoration is valued over new manufacturing. The entire planting scheme is grown in peat‑free substrates, supported by energy‑efficient LED grow lights, proving that a lush indoor ‘jungle’ can thrive without contributing to peatland destruction or excessive energy use.
Visitors will discover practical, accessible ways to bring these principles into their own homes:
- Adopt our Natural Air Filter plant list to reduce reliance on mechanical purifiers
- Switch to 100% peat‑free potting mixes for healthier plants and healthier ecosystems
- Furnish with pre‑loved or reclaimed materials to reduce carbon footprints
- Use self‑watering or biodegradable planters for long‑term, low‑waste care
Ultimately, this design invites visitors to reimagine their workspace as a low‑impact, carbon‑conscious sanctuary, one that nurtures personal wellbeing while protecting the natural world. It is not just a design aesthetic; it’s a blueprint for sustainable, restorative living.
Planting
The Scholar’s Jungle rejects bright florals in favour of a palette built on structure, depth, and quiet intensity. This is a space guided by a scholar’s eye, a preference for form, texture, and shadow over conventional colour.
Expect deep forest greens, near‑black foliage, and charcoal‑toned veining that create a moody botanical architecture. Subtle hints of living bronze and burnt burgundy emerge in the undersides of select leaves, revealing their colour only when light catches them at the right angle.
In this exhibit, texture becomes the true source of visual richness. Matte, velvety leaves sit in deliberate contrast to high‑gloss waxy fronds, creating a dynamic interplay of light across surfaces. Rather than relying on blooms, the ‘colour’ comes from reflections, sheens, and shadow, the quiet drama of plants that reward close observation.
Key Plants
The following plants have been selected to bridge the gap between Dark Academia style and modern home-office wellness.
- Black ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas ‘Raven’) – Waxy, near almost black foliage that mirrors the deep tones of a leather chair. Chosen for its extreme resilience, it thrives in low-light library corners with minimal water
- Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) – Stately, upright deep-green leaves that scream Victorian heritage. A nod to the original plant hunters, this indestructible species represents the timeless nature of a scholar’s study
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria ‘Moonshine’) – Silvery, sword-like leaves that provide a “pop” of light against rustic wood. A wellness powerhouse and one of the few plants that converts CO2 into oxygen at night, keeping the scholar’s mind sharp
- Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa) – Massive, iconic fenestrated leaves that provide the jungle scale. Its large surface area acts as a natural humidifier, combating the dry air often found in home offices with electronic equipment
- Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica’) – Heart-shaped leaves with matte silver splotches that look like ink splatters. Used to soften the hard edges of the desk, this trailing vine is a top-tier air purifier for removing common household toxins
About the Designer
Horticulture has always been a constant in Abbi’s life, rooted in a childhood of gardening duties under the guidance of her two very knowledgeable gardening parents. Complemented by the influence of her architect uncle in Thailand, whose award-winning garden designs showcased the balance between structure and tropical vibrancy.
After the birth of her daughter, followed a few years later by the passing of her father, Abbi felt a natural pull to move away from the long hours of the corporate world. Transitioning into the industry allowed her to return to these roots, trading the office for a career that prioritises well-being and a more intentional way of working.
What are the advantages of designing a garden at the Festival?
Abbi says, “For me, the primary advantage is the creative freedom to build a fully immersive ‘story’. The Scholar’s Jungle will allow visitors to see houseplants not just as decor, but as functional partners in a healthy home. It provides a rare opportunity to showcase innovative ideas, sustainable sourcing to a highly engaged, knowledgeable audience.
I decided to get involved this year as a personal and professional milestone. Having transitioning from the corporate world, I wanted to prove that a workspace can be both productive and restorative. Following the birth of my daughter and the loss of my father, I felt a strong pull to return to the gardening roots instilled in me by my parents and the architectural influence of my uncle in Thailand. This show is the perfect stage to demonstrate how biophilic design can transform our modern ‘work-from-home’ lives into something much more soulful and sustainable.”
