Greenfingers Ty Hafan garden opens

Awoodland den, willow arch and colourful, scented planting are at the heart of a new multi-sensory garden at a children’s hospice in Wales, officially opened in April by Terry Walton, BBC Radio 2’s resident gardener.

Victoria Wade Landscapes designed the garden, with its view across the Bristol Channel, to encourage biodiversity and wildlife and help children connect with the natural world. “This is definitely my favourite garden we have ever created. It’s been so exciting to see the garden come into bloom this spring and seeing the thousands of bulbs the volunteers have planted flowering for the first time has been really special,” she says.

The garden was brought to life by NP Landscapes, project managed by Joe Wade and funded by The National Heritage Lottery, The Postcode Lottery and the growing network of valued friends and supporters of Greenfingers. Thousands of plants and bulbs were planted by Greenfingers supporters including including Woodlodge – led by Ian Flounders; Pugh’s Garden Centre team; giant veg grower, Kevin Fortey; Neil Sewell, Greenfingers Trustee and the team of hospice environment in which we care for those children and families who use our services,” says Deb Ho, Tŷ Hafan’s Director of Care. “The garden has far exceeded expectations and is already an important place for so many,” she adds.

Terry Walton, who was on hand to officially open the garden, says it will give enormous pleasure as well as peace and great solace during difficult times. “This new sensory garden is a gorgeous new addition to Tŷ Hafan’s beautiful hospice grounds, which I know are cared for by a team of dedicated and talented volunteer gardeners.”

Sue Allen, Greenfingers Chairman says: “It is our great pleasure to hand over the garden to all of those at Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice. “On behalf of all of us at Greenfingers and Tŷ Hafan, we thank you and all our wonderful supporters from the bottom of our hearts.”

Greenfingers is currently working on gardens in hospices in Essex and East Anglia and in the early stages of designing outside spaces for three in Kent, Lancashire and Cumbria.

garden volunteers. Gifts in kind were also generously donated by Evergreen Garden Care, Taylors Bulbs, Jubb Bulbs, Smart Garden, and Kent and Stowe.

Tŷ Hafan is one of just two children’s hospices in Wales providing care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The children and young people who access Tŷ Hafan’s services suffer from a broad range of conditions, many with profound and complex medical needs. Some of the conditions are so rare they haven’t been named. “Our new sensory garden is a wonderful addition to the coastal