A County Durham hospice will see a new ‘Garden of Compassion’ created for the infamous RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2025.
After the show, the garden will then be transported to St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham, a facility known for its compassionate care of individuals facing life-limiting illnesses.
The new garden will be created by Hospice UK, highlighting the essential role the garden plays in end-of-life care.
Tom Hoblyn, the award-winning designer, emphasises the garden’s significance: “Having designed hospice gardens in the past, I know first-hand just how valuable they are.
“The Garden of Compassion will raise awareness of the vital work being done by Hospice UK, while offering visitors a space for reflection, and for celebration of the compassion and care that hospices provide.”
The garden will offer visitors a space for reflection and celebration, showcasing an array of colourful Mediterranean plants collected during Hoblyn’s plant-hunting trips.
Many of these unique plants have never been seen before at Chelsea and will help enhance the local biodiversity.
The design ensures that there will always be something in bloom, helping to uplift spirits and provide moments of joy for those in the hospice.
St Cuthbert’s Hospice, located on five acres near Durham City Centre, provides free care to those with life-limiting illnesses and support to their families and caregivers.
“He’d been helped outside to enjoy the view and said to me: ‘you know what mate; I know I’ve not got long left, and I just want to spend my last days looking at these gardens’.
“Those words have stayed with me. I know the garden is going to mean so much to people here.
“We’re all absolutely over the moon and it’s going to be a real pleasure to help maintain this special garden that many people will enjoy for years to come.”
Jeff McWaters, from Spennymoor in Durham, has been attending the Living Well Centre at St Cuthbert’s Hospice since February 2023.
He has Huntington’s Disease which was diagnosed many years ago and there's currently no cure or any way to stop it from getting worse.
Jeff said: “It’s fantastic to hear that the hospice is getting this garden from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next year. I love watching it on the telly and look forward to when they give the gold. I hope this garden gets one!
“I’m always asking the garden volunteers what each plant is. I used to have my own allotment and greenhouse but had to give it up as I couldn’t handle it anymore.
“Gardening has lovely memories, like growing baby cucumbers for my granddaughter’s lunchbox. I’ll look forward to looking around the new garden when it comes.”
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Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, said: “Gardens play such a vital role in our wellbeing, throughout our lives. Anyone who has benefitted from a hospice garden will know the immense, restorative power of horticulture for people who are approaching the end of life – and their loved ones, too.
“Above all else, hospice gardens are about people and compassion. Tom’s garden design captures that so beautifully. It’s a space that’s about letting people focus on living, right until the end.
“We are so grateful to Project Giving Back for this transformational opportunity. And we are so pleased, on behalf of the UK’s 200 hospices - and indeed the many thousands of volunteer hospice gardeners - to bring the Hospice UK Garden of Compassion to RHS Chelsea next year. We can’t wait to see you there.”
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