The Greenfingers Charity completes new garden at St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle; the development of which would not have been possible without the incredible funds and product donations from a wealth of generous supporters.
St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle provides care for babies, children and young adults with progressive, life-shortening conditions from across the North East. Their team of skilled staff provides residential short breaks to local families, where up to six children and young adults can stay at any one time in their relaxed, home-from-home environment.
The new Greenfingers garden is an inclusive garden space where the children with complex needs can play together and with their siblings and families. Designed by Greenfingers’ very own Garden Project Manager, Holly Harrington, the new garden includes a fun and interactive play area which includes accessible play equipment, whilst the existing summerhouse has been given a makeover, complemented with a new seating areas and a stunning willow wall to add impact and interesting architectural lines. The area has also been expanded so that it is now visible from the main living room area within the hospice, so children and families can enjoy the space from the comfort of the indoors.
Some aspects of the new garden at St Oswald’s may also look familiar as it has been confirmed that elements of the Greenfingers RHS Chelsea show garden from 2019 – kindly stored by the team at British Garden Centres - will be incorporated into the new garden in Newcastle.
Bringing Holly’s design to life was the super talented team from Ian Howe Landscaping, who have been inundated with generous donations from many Greenfingers supporters during the build, including a wooden benches, plants and compost. Huge thanks must go to Bridgman, Primrose, the team at Cowells Garden Centre, Sean Murray, Evergreen Garden Care and medical supplies and corporate partners, Teleflex, for their donations of both product and time to help the garden at St Oswald’s to take shape.
The list of supporters continues, however, with those organisations that have helped to fund the garden build. From The National Garden Scheme and The Bank Community Fund to The Postcode Lottery, Screwfix with its ‘Pennies’ scheme and the entire garden retail sector which raises much needed funds throughout Garden ReLeaf Day, these incredible organisations have helped take the garden at St Oswald’s from a concept to reality.
