The ‘Room to Breathe’ Hospital Garden is featuring at RHS Chelsea Flower Show later this month and the team will start work on building the garden for exhibition this week.
Jen Donnelly and Catherine Gibbon, both garden designers, wanted to create a calm oasis where parents and caregivers can step away from the chaos of hospital treatments, recharge, and regain strength—a “Room to Breathe”.
When Jen’s son underwent brain surgery at age four, she spent hours in sterile hospital corridors, with nowhere to escape while waiting for news. That experience made her realise how vital green spaces within hospitals truly are. Inspired by the healing power of nature, this garden will offer a restorative sanctuary for parents and caregivers—the forgotten army who tirelessly support their loved ones through life's most challenging moments. The Room to Breathe Hospital Garden is dedicated to the Tuberous Sclerosis Association (TSA)—a small UK charity supporting those affected by this rare genetic condition. After the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the garden will be relocated to Amersham Hospital, part of the NHS Buckinghamshire Trust.
They are thankful to so many supporters including: Tendercare Nurseries in Denham – who are donating all the plants showcased at the Chelsea Flower Show to Amersham Hospital, The Landscape Group (Bucks-based) – who are building the show garden, with staff donating their time and expertise, and many others are helping to make this garden a reality
The team needs to raise £10K to fund the garden’s build and relocation to Amersham— every donation, big or small, will help transform this space.
Jointly, Jen and Catherine work with a wider team at NHS Amersham Hospital to rejuvenate the unloved garden spaces. The team won NHS ‘Volunteer Team of the Year’ in 2024 at the Unsung Hero Awards.
To learn more about the garden project, you can visit the Room to Breathe website (external site) and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show website (external site)
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