SSAFA has announced that it will have a garden, designed by the award-winning Amanda Waring, in the Urban category at next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show…
The backdrop of the Royal Hospital Chelsea gives the perfect setting for this Urban Garden, providing a military connection to the ‘SSAFA Garden supported by CCLA’. After the show, the garden will be transferred to SSAFA’s Norton House, Stanford Hall, which offers a home-from-home for families and friends of service personnel being treated for injury nearby at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
The modular building of the show garden will enable an efficient transfer from the show into a pre-designed space at Norton House, Stanford Hall. Once installed there, it will offer a peaceful space for friends, families, patients and staff to relax and enjoy.
Amanda Waring is a multi-award-winning garden designer, including two RHS Gold Medals. The design includes an infinity water feature which, together with the movement of the layered planting, are intended to restore and lift the spirit. The garden will be enclosed using timber walls and hedging, creating an area of security and quiet reflection. The gentle sound of the infinity water feature and the movement of the layered planting are intended to restore and lift the spirit.
Amanda Waring said: “Coming from a proud military family myself, this project has taken on an extra meaning. My son is currently serving in the Army so it felt like a natural fit to be able to design a space that would raise awareness of the invaluable work that SSAFA does. Knowing that the garden will directly benefit other military families who’s loved ones are recovering at the DMRC makes this even more poignant for me.”
Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, said: “The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a matter of days after the 75th anniversary of VE Day, an occasion that allows us all to pay our respects to those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our Nation. It is my hope that visitors to this space will take a moment for reflection and gratitude for this sacrifice. The garden will then bring a great deal of comfort to the patients and their families once it is installed at Norton House.”