Debut RHS Chelsea designers Jen Donnelly and Catherine Gibbon have joined forces to create a garden for the Tuberous Sclerosis Association (TSA) to highlight the work of this small, rare disease charity.
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a rare genetic condition which affects 1 in 6000 people and can lead to issues such as epilepsy, developmental delay and problems with different organs. The Room to Breathe Hospital Garden aims to raise awareness of the condition, as well as the vital works of the TSA. The charity is very close to Donnelly’s heart as her son, Alex, has the genetic condition and the charity plays a vital role in providing treatment and support, while also funding research for future cures.
As a lasting legacy, the garden will be relocated after RHS Chelsea to be part of a larger garden space the duo are designing at Amersham Hospital, part of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. This new garden will provide a much-needed sanctuary and room to breathe, for patients, families and caregivers.
Speaking about the garden Donnelly said, “Before my son was diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex I hadn’t heard of it or of the Tuberous Sclerosis Association and their important work in supporting families dealing with a diagnosis and treatment. Through this RHS Chelsea garden, we wanted to help raise awareness of this condition and the huge impact it can have on people’s lives. During the time of my son’s surgery, I spent many hours in the hospital with no direct access to any green space. We are delighted this garden’s legacy will
provide a beautiful sanctuary for families like my own, to retreat, recharge and face the challenges of caregiving with renewed energy.”
Luke Langlands, Joint Chief Executive of the TSA, said: “This garden provides us with a unique opportunity to reach a wider audience and demonstrate the vital work that the TSA does to improve the lives of the TSC community across support and information, research and campaigning. One of the TSA’s strategic aims is to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of people living with TSC and their families and carers. We’re so pleased to see that the design of this garden is directly inspired by this aim, focusing on the personal experience of parents like Jen and the experience of the often challenging journey with TSC.”
Garden Design
The garden is inspired by Donnelly’s personal experiences of having to wait anxiously in a hospital ward while her son underwent brain surgery. An experience, which would have been more bearable if she had access have access to calming green space to escape from the stresses of the medical environment.
The Room to Breathe Hospital Garden for the TSA highlights how a container garden with carefully selected planting choices, can create a striking, verdant, and immersive environment, even within a small area. The design serves as inspiration for anyone looking to transform their outdoor spaces, demonstrating that even modest gardens can be reimagined to provide a tranquil retreat.
A cocoon-like feature chair cradles caregivers, offering a warm embrace and a sense of security. Evergreens and textural leaves provide a long season of interest and shades of green provide a calming backdrop with white flowers illuminating darker areas. Hints of burgundy foliage and flowers act as a contrast to create depth and focal points in a small space. An angled pathway and pergola enhance the feeling of being cocooned and create a feeling of being surrounded by nature. Key plants include Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku’, Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’, hardy ferns, Hakonechloa macra and Melica uniflora f. albida.
The pocket-sized design saves on ground space by maximising verticality, using selected specimen trees and an angled pergola to host verdant climbing plants such as Akebia quinata ‘Cream Form’.
The garden will be built by the Landscape Group.
The Designers
Their first joint design venture, Gibbon and Donnelly both run their own garden design businesses in Buckinghamshire. Donnelly, retrained and graduated from the London College of Garden Design in 2021. Gibbon, who grew up in South Africa, graduated from KLC Design School in 2021.
Gibbon said, “The garden is a healing space designed for therapeutic benefits, providing a calming atmosphere that promotes mental well-being. Through Jen’s own experiences and our volunteer work together at Amersham Hospital, we have witnessed firsthand how outdoor spaces can significantly enhance the well being of both staff and patients, underscoring the importance of green initiatives in hospital environments. We hope visitors to RHS Chelsea will enjoy the garden as a beautiful sanctuary space and that its messaging will resonate with them, perhaps reflecting their own journey of supporting loved ones in hospital settings. “