Gardens in Progress
Greenfingers Gardens in children's hospices are magical and inspiring spaces in which life-limited children can spend quality time outside with their families, friends and carers. As well as gardens where therapies, play and precious memories can be created, Greenfingers gardens can also provide a place for peaceful reflection and remembrance.
Due to the continued generosity of those who support Greenfingers Charity, we are looking to bringing the precious gift of a garden to the following hospices in 2021 and beyond:
St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle provides care for babies, children and young adults with progressive, life-shortening conditions from across the North East of England. Their team of skilled staff provide residential short breaks to local families. Up to six children and young adults can stay at any one time in their relaxed, home-from-home environment. Here they can enjoy a range of fun activities such as sensory play, music therapy, arts and crafts, baking, trips out and complementary therapy. The hospice has asked for our help to create an all-inclusive play garden which is fun for children with complex disabilities and their siblings and peers.
Our in house Garden Project Manager, Holly has designed this new garden and we're pleased to say the garden is almost completed. We look forward to seeing children enjoying this garden in the months ahead and to the garden officially opening in July.
Haven House in Woodford Green, Essex is a nurse-led hospice for babies, children and young people
under 19 who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. The hospice provides round-the-clock care, 365 days a year, to their children and their families. The hospice has asked for our help to create a reflection garden that will be used by life-limited children, their siblings and parents as well as hospice staff. The garden will be “a place to escape to”
The designer for this project is Tom Hoblyn. Tom is an established figure at both RHS Chelsea and RHS Hampton Court, and has won three gold and four silver gilt and two silver medals, as well as the coveted People’s Choice Award for his Arthritis UK sponsored garden and a nomination for The People’s Choice of The Decade Award in 2020. He is a member of the Society of Garden Designers, (MSGD).
We hope this new garden, which is located within a stunning woodland on the edge of Epping Forest will come to life in the Sping.
Ty Hafan in the Vale of Glamorgan, is one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care services, offering care to children and support for their families, throughout Wales. They offer comfort, care and support to life-limited children, young people and their families in the hospice, in the community and in their home so they can make the most of the time they have left together. The hospice allows parents and carers to relax and recharge their batteries and makes sure the needs of brothers and sisters are never forgotten.
Here we are delighted to be working with designers Victoria and Joe Wade and look forward to bringing this new garden to life in 2021, thank to the support of The Heritage Lottery Fund and others.
The Nook, in the heart of Norfolk falls under the umbrella of East Anglia Children’s Hospices. The hospice, which was opened in 2019 by HRH, The Duchess of Cambridge, offers a family-centred, needs-led approach to care, ensuring all of the needs of the children and young people they care for are met, whether psychological, physical, emotional, social or spiritual. The hospice has asked for our help to design their entire outside space and to complete a new garden within that space.
We are delighted that, thanks to the hospice, we are working with Ann-Marie Powell to design this garden.
As well as others, some of those hospices on our waiting list include:
Jigsaw Children's Hospice, Cumbria
Derian House, Chorley, Lancashire
Hope House Children's Hospice, Oswestry
If you are a children's hospice with a garden that needs our help, please take a look here for more information and how to get in touch.