The Greenfingers Charity is delighted to announce the official opening of its latest magical garden, this time at Chestnut Tree House Hospice in Arundel, with the new Kitchen Garden which was unveiled on Wednesday 24th September 2025.
Designed by award-winning garden designers Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer and built by Baylis Landscapes, the new space brings together ornamental planting, growing beds, and pollinator-friendly features to create a haven for children, families, and staff.
The Kitchen Garden has been designed to encourage hands-on engagement with nature, supporting sustainability, exploration, education and wellbeing. Children will have the opportunity to learn more about the journey from ‘Garden to Plate’, while produce grown will also be used in the hospice kitchen while the ‘Dads Club’ will be encouraged to get actively involved in tending the garden.
Boyd Douglas-Davies, Chairman of Greenfingers Charity, reflected on the milestone:
“Reaching our 70th garden is a moment of immense pride. Hospices are under enormous pressure to fund the essential care provided within their walls and that’s where Greenfingers steps in. We’re the only charity dedicated to creating therapeutic outdoor spaces for children’s hospices and with the support of our partners and the public, we can continue to make a difference. This Kitchen Garden is a shining example of what can be achieved when compassion and creativity come together.”
Stuart Palma, CEO of Southern Hospice Group, which includes Chestnut Tree House Hospice, added: “It’s a very exciting time for our hospice, and this beautiful new garden is a testament to the power of partnership. Having seen first-hand the essential work hospices do for children and families, I’m thrilled to be part of a community that shares a passion for exceptional care. This garden will offer a peaceful, engaging space for connection, healing, and learning, whilst also providing produce we can use in our kitchens and improve our sustainability. But it’s important to remember that Chestnut Tree House receives only around 7% of its income from central government and with running costs of £6 million a year, we must raise £5 million annually through fundraising and partnerships to keep providing our vital services. That’s why projects like this mean so much and we’re incredibly grateful to Greenfingers and all those who made it possible.”
Greenfingers Charity is hugely grateful to Honorary Member, Roger Head, whose incredible generosity made the garden possible, and to all those who kindly gave funds or gifts in kind to help create The Kitchen Garden at Chestnut Tree House. Special thanks go to the Chapman Trust, The Hedley Foundation, Alexander Rose Ltd, Arbour Landscapes, Greenwood Plants, Rolawn,Veg Trug and others whose support has helped to bring this very special space to life.
