World Child Cancer’s Nurturing Garden

Designed as a sensory haven, this garden brings joy, hope and escapism through nature for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Nurturing Garden RHS Chelsea 2024 for children living with cancer

Supported by Project Giving Back, the garden is designed by Italian landscape designer Giulio Giorgi. Giorgi trained in agronomy and ecology in Italy and worked for several years in organic agricultural research. Based in Paris, he has been working as a garden designer since 2007.

Circular raised beds, made from perforated clay blocks, offer diverse sensory experiences through soft-touch plants, fragrant herbs, and vibrant mosses whilst the lower raised beds cultivate edible plants for exploration. These low-maintenance, resilient plants symbolise the countries supported by World Child Cancer UK by improving global child cancer survival rates through community and healthcare empowerment. The raised beds are designed to fit together like a modular-block system requiring no concrete or chemical glues in their assembly. Any leftover bricks from the raised beds will be crushed and recycled to find a second life as part of a smooth, guiding garden path

Supporting emotional wellbeing, a child and a parent can stroll through the reclaimed brick path, which leads to scenic meadow surrounded by tall trees, perennials, annuals, and shrubs. At its heart lies a seating area, which is a restful place for children and their loved ones.

The Nurturing Garden is to feature a unique watering system through traditional clay devices called ‘ollas’, which is a low-tech system with no need for water pressure nor electricity to ensure water wastage is minimal and is at its most effective.

After the show, the garden is to be relocated close to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children at CLIC House. CLIC House has 15 bedrooms and was the first UK-based purpose-built home to open as one of the Young Lives vs Cancer charity ‘Homes from Homes’ that are offered to families so they can stay together whilst their child is undergoing cancer treatment.

The garden build will be managed by Landesigns Landscaping Services.