Summer may have ended but for the Greenfingers Charity, a busy time lies ahead as building work started on the garden at The Nook in Norfolk and Demelza Hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent earlier last month.
The Nook – Norfolk
The Nook, part of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, has been several years in the making, with an ambitious long-term vision for the complete garden space. Officially opened by HRH, The Duchess of Cambridge in 2019, The Nook is East Anglia’s Children Hospice’s (EACH) newest site, and its masterplan garden design has been created by Gold-medal winning designer Anne-Marie Powell.
The Rest & Reflect Garden will be the first garden space created at The Nook, with the official groundbreaking which took place at the beginning of September. Located at the top of the site, this garden space will offer a tranquil, sensory space that will incorporate quiet corners where families can spend relaxing time together. With the expertise of Stewart Landscape, this space will be brought to life over the coming months.
As with all Greenfingers gardens, the existence of the Rest & Reflect Garden is only possible due to the incredible generosity of the charity’s supporters. Helping to make this garden a reality is Clarins, the Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA), the National Garden Scheme, Evergreen Garden Care, Rose Press Garden, Ann-Marie Powell and many others.
Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications at the Greenfingers Charity, said: “I am so pleased to confirm that we have broken ground at The Nook. Reaching this point has not been without its challenges, but now we’re full steam ahead on what we hope is the beginning of a very long legacy for the charity at this hospice. The Rest & Reflect Garden will be a beautiful space and Ann Marie’s vision will undoubtedly provide all who spend time at The Nook with a peaceful hideaway.”
Demelza Hospice – Sittingbourne, Kent
Demelza Hospice Care for Children in Sittingbourne is the site of Greenfingers’ first-ever garden almost 25 years ago. Now, designers Andrew Fisher Tomlin & Dan Bowyer from multi-award-winning garden designers, Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer, are leading the design of a new garden which is being built by local contractors, Baylis Landscapes.
Once completed, the design will feature a bog garden, a wildlife safari that will feature wild meadow area pollinators, an ant walk and a bug hotel and, importantly, the design also allows for complete accessibility for all those who spend time at Demelza Hospice.
Linda Petrons added: “We are all so excited to see the different elements work to create an immersive and interactive space full of play, nature, and engagement. We’re over the moon to be getting started and cannot thank our friends at Millbrook Garden Centres, Clarins, as well as many other wonderful supporters of the charity enough for supporting this amazing project.”
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