Little Harbour Children's Hospice, St Austell
During Hospice Care Week we celebrated the completion of our 59th garden at Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Harbour, St Austell, Cornwall. This stunning all-weather garden has been transformed under the expert eye of local award-winning garden designer, Darren Hawkes. Cornwall-based, Darren draws his inspiration from the landscape that surrounds him and his designs have a harmonious feel to them. He says "I love the relationship between plants and hard materials. The opportunity to highlight shapes both in foliage and form as well as in colour is one that I relish". This is most certainly felt within the garden, especially with the stunning garden shelter which is the centrepiece of the design.
Made from galvanised steel and standing adjacent to the curving path, the garden shelter rises out of the lush planting to give a sense of enclosure. Coloured panels adorn the shelter, which provides increased privacy, to catch the light for an almost kaleidoscope experience. Open on two sides, the shelter has been designed to be big enough to allow bed-bound residents the chance to get outside and enjoy some time in the garden.
Elsewhere in this new garden there is a rich palette of plants, with colourful blooms contrasting against soft grasses that will catch the Cornish wind and create a calming and natural soundtrack to the garden. The garden is all about maximising the sensory experience – from beautiful scents, colours and light that catch the eye, to a space to sit and enjoy the fresh air, or to feel the breeze gently caressing your skin.
Claire Kilbey, Head of Care at Little Harbour children’s hospice, said “We take just as much pride in the outside space we have at Little Harbour as we do the facilities that we have inside. Children and families really enjoy exploring our gardens and benefit on many levels from the time they spend outdoors. To have this additional space and structure, which makes it possible for even the most poorly of children to experience some time outdoors in a safe but stimulating environment, is fantastic.”
Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers Charity, said: “From the very beginning we knew Darren’s vision would be truly spectacular and the reality has far exceeded our expectations. This is a truly stunning garden, and we will forever be grateful to all those that helped to make it a reality.”
Image credit: James Darling Photography