Rotherham-bound RHS Flower Show garden wins award
A “BRILLIANT” garden designed to reflect the voices of people in Rotherham living with lung conditions has won a silver medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Asthma + Lung UK Breathing Space Garden was designed by Angus Thompson as a “calm, supportive ‘breathing space’ for patients to rehabilitate and reconnect with nature” and will be located at BreathingSpace facility in East Dene – Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust's specialist site for people living with respiratory conditions.
The garden includes accessible paths, graded steps and seated rest points on a path to the centre of the garden, where there is a sheltered space for breath supporting therapies such as yoga and Tai Chi.
The design also features plants with natural health benefits – two pine trees, known for natural antioxidant and immune-boosting qualities, were planted, while low-allergen plants were selected for their gentler impact on people living with respiratory conditions.
As well as winning a medal, the garden was also highly commended in the RHS Environmental Innovation Award category for its use of innovative, sustainable and low carbon materials and practices.
After the RHS Chelsea Flower Show ends this month, the garden will relocate to BreathingSpace where it will become a permanent therapeutic space offering holistic support for patients and staff working at the site.
TRFT managing director Bob Kirton said: “From the beginning when the idea of the garden took its first breath, (designer) Angus and the team have included the voices of our patients and colleagues.
“His brilliant design which included this immensely impressed us – we’re glad to see this reflected at the show.
“We’re excited to receive the garden to BreathingSpace and we look forward to welcoming everybody for a formal opening later this year.”
Asthma + Lung UK CEO Sarah Sleet said: “It really is a ‘breathing space’ that will inspire people to pause and reflect on how important it is to breathe freely, and help raise awareness of the reality of breathlessness for the 12 million people in the UK who live with lung conditions.
“This medal is the icing on the cake, and incredibly well-deserved – congratulations and thank you, Angus."
The award is Angus' third win following previous medals at the 2007 and 2009 shows.