Greenfingers opens new garden at hospice
National charity Greenfingers has opened a new ‘reflective garden’ at a hospice in Essex. Created by award-winning garden designer Thomas Hoblyn and landscaping company Stewart Landscapes, the new 300m2 garden at Haven House in Children’s Hospice replaces a disused woodland and will provide a secluded space for children, visitors and staff.
Hoblyn officiated the opening, alongside Aasam and Mariam Ali whose late child Aiza was diagnosed with a rare metabolic condition and was cared for by Haven House over 14 years. The parents were part of the initial conversations with Hoblyn regarding the space.
Aasam Ali said it now “offers a space to connect, emotionally, spiritually and be at one with yourself, your family and friends…Being involved in this project was not only an opportunity for personal growth and development, but also a chance to make a positive impact on the community, and I hope Haven House continues to work with this wonderful team to deliver more.”
Haven House is a nurse-led hospice that is home to babies, children and young people under 19, all of whom have life-threatening or life limiting conditions.
The Garden of Reflection was made possible thanks to various donations of funding, products and time. Linda Petrons, Greenfinger’s director of fundraising & communications, says: “Handing over any garden is always a really magical moment. Haven House’s Garden of Reflection is a truly stunning space, and you can see all the love and passion that has been poured into every element of the design. It is our honour to be able to officially hand over the garden, and we truly hope that it proves to be a long-lasting legacy for all those that spend time in it.”
