Award winning RHS garden donated to WUTH to celebrate 75 years of the NHS

An RHS Silver Gilt award winning show garden from the Royal Horticultural Society Tatton Flower Show (19-23 July) at Tatton Park, Cheshire is being donated to WUTH Charity for replanting after the show. Silver Gilt is the second highest medal that RHS judges make for garden design and planting. The donation in kind of the garden is valued at £40,000 and it will be installed for patient and staff benefit in the grounds of Clatterbridge Hospital on Wirral. It will celebrate 75 years of the NHS and be a lasting commemoration of the anniversary.

The garden’s theme, ‘Constructing Minds’ is around mental health and focusses on the hidden issues of mental health for construction workers. Construction has the highest suicide rate of all industries, where an average of two workers take their own lives, each working day. The garden is designed as a calming space to help those struggling with their mental wellbeing. The relocation to Clatterbridge Hospital will transport this green and contemplative space, so it can be used by WUTH staff and other occupants on the Clatterbridge Health Campus.

The garden is a collaboration between designer, Carolyn Hardern and landscape construction manager, Jon Jarvis. Carolyn is a garden designer with 20 years’ horticultural experience designing gardens for private clients and a care home for those living with dementia. ‘Constructing Minds’ will be Carolyn’s 10th show garden. Jon Jarvis is a Landscape Construction Manager with over 20 years’ experience, specialising in mature tree planting and show garden design and installation.

The garden design starts with crossing the threshold via a steel portico, and then opens to a curved pathway and gentle planting. The Consultation Glade provides a private retreat for one-to-one counselling and further along the path, the Inner Sanctuary, planted with pockets of wildflowers, is a place to feel secure and private. The Wildflower Meadow is inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (‘forest bathing’), based on the belief that time spent immersed in nature can bring rejuvenating benefits.

Commenting on the donation to celebrate 75 years of the NHS, WUTH Chief Executive Janelle Holmes said:

‘We are delighted to accept this generous donation of an award winning and beautiful RHS show garden, to benefit patients and staff. It will be a fabulous addition to our Clatterbridge site and a lasting facility to enhance the green space around our hospital.’

The garden at the RHS Tatton Show event itself is promoting the construction industry charities Band of Builders and Mates in Mind, before then being transferred to Clatterbridge Hospital as a donation to WUTH Charity.

Notes

The plant list and pictures of the garden can be seen here Constructing Minds Show Garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2023