The Greenfingers Charity has announced that designer duo Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer have been appointed to work on its latest children’s hospice garden project at Chestnut Tree House, the hospice for children in West Sussex.

The Kitchen Garden at Chestnut Tree House follows on from the 2008 Greenfingers-funded Meadow Garden, and the beautiful Woodland Walk designed in 2014 by Ann-Marie Powell. The area of land earmarked for the Kitchen Garden is adjacent to a newly developed playpark and sensory garden. The new area will be a sustainable kitchen garden at the hospice that will provide home-grown fruit and vegetables for both the children and adult hospices.

The project is being funded thanks to a generous donation from Greenfingers charity Ambassador, Roger Head. Roger is the former owner of Forest Lodge Garden Centre and Bird World, has a family history of vegetable growing and looks forward to seeing how the garden at Chestnut Tree House unfolds.

Sarah Clifton, Head of Major Gifts at the hospice said: “Our vision is a kitchen garden that will provide therapeutic and educational experiences for children and young people with life limiting conditions and their families. By designing the garden to be fully accessible, even for children with complex conditions, we aspire to provide them with the opportunity to engage in the process of growing fruits and vegetables.

“Research shows that the pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges stemming from isolation, particularly among families confronted with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions. In response, we firmly believe that the nurturing environment of the garden, coupled with the cathartic act of gardening itself, can help improve our beneficiaries’ mental health”.

Plans for the Kitchen Garden will encompass a dedicated gardening club tailored to children and young people, a specialised club for parents to bond over horticultural pursuits and meaningful conversations, and targeted efforts involving siblings, fostering their connection with the garden, and providing an opportunity to meet other children who understand what they are experiencing.

It is planned that a portion of the produce used in our kitchens will originate from this garden, reinforcing our commitment to self-sufficiency and local sourcing. Incorporating sustainable practices in the kitchen garden will help minimise environmental impact, conserve resources, and teach staff, children, young people and families the significance of sustainable living.

Linda Petrons, Greenfingers’ Director of Fundraising and Communications said: “We are delighted to be working with the team at Chestnut Tree House and are very much looking forward to seeing children and young people, as well as the wider hospice community benefit from what we are sure will be a wonderful new Kitchen Garden. 

We would especially like to thank Roger for his incredible generosity. All of us at Greenfingers, the hospice and  Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer look forward to sharing Roger’s enthusiasm and expertise during the design and build process and his continued support as the Greenfingers Ambassador for this garden long after the garden has come to life.”

Find out more

To find out more about Greenfingers Charity, and how to get involved in a range of fundraising events please email Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

You can also join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media - https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn.