The Gathering Heart Garden Opens at Hope House Children’s Hospice
On 30 September 2025, the Gathering Heart Garden at Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry was officially opened, creating a vibrant new outdoor space for children, families and staff to enjoy together. Designed as a place of connection, exploration and comfort, the garden represents another meaningful collaboration between Greenfingers Charity and dedicated garden designers and landscapers.
The garden was created by the talented teams at CW Studio and Landstruction, who worked together to design and build a space that encourages movement, interaction and sensory engagement. Carefully planned and beautifully landscaped, the Gathering Heart Garden will continue to grow and evolve with the seasons, offering families new experiences throughout the year.
A Garden Designed for Play and Peace
The Gathering Heart Garden has been thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of children with life-limiting conditions while also creating a welcoming environment for their families.
Inclusive play equipment allows children of different abilities to interact with the garden and enjoy outdoor play safely. Shaded seating areas provide comfortable places for families to sit together, while quieter corners offer peaceful spaces for reflection when moments of calm are needed.
Planting throughout the garden encourages sensory discovery, inviting children to experience colour, texture and seasonal change. Whether children are exploring the garden, enjoying gentle play or simply relaxing outdoors with their families, the space offers valuable opportunities to connect with nature.
The Impact of Hospice Gardens
For many families visiting a children’s hospice, outdoor spaces become incredibly important. Gardens offer a welcome contrast to clinical environments, allowing families to step outside, take a breath and spend time together in a peaceful setting.
The Gathering Heart Garden creates opportunities for laughter, exploration and shared experiences. For siblings, it offers a place to play. For parents and carers, it provides moments of calm and connection. For hospice staff, it creates a supportive environment where care and compassion extend beyond the walls of the hospice building.
Boyd Douglas-Davies, Chairman of Greenfingers Charity, shared:
“We are thrilled to see the Gathering Heart Garden at Hope House come to life. It is a truly magical space that will provide precious moments of joy, connection and comfort for children, siblings, parents and carers for many years to come. We are immensely grateful to everyone whose generosity and hard work has made this possible.”
Andy Goldsmith, CEO of Hope House Children’s Hospice, also highlighted the garden’s importance:
“Every day we see the difference that outdoor space makes to the children and families who come to Hope House. The Gathering Heart Garden is far more than a garden – it is a sanctuary of play, laughter and peace where families can create lasting memories together, even in the most difficult of times.”
Supporting Hospice Gardens in Shropshire and Beyond
The Gathering Heart Garden was made possible thanks to the generosity of Greenfingers Charity supporters. Special thanks go to LOFA, NPT Transatlantic, Abel Sim, Creative Health for planting and seating, The National Lottery, The Hobson Trust, The Bernard Sunley Trust and The Solar Centre, as well as the many designers, landscapers, volunteers and supporters who helped bring the project to life.
Gardens like this make a lasting difference to families during incredibly challenging times. If you would like to help create more hospice gardens like the Gathering Heart Garden – here in Shropshire and across the UK – please consider supporting Greenfingers Charity. Your donation can help bring more spaces of comfort, joy and connection to children and families who need them most.