Earl Mountbatten Hospice Chelsea Garden.

This garden was designed by Matthew Wilson, originally being his RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden 2015. The garden was gifted to the Island with the support of Greenfingers Charity, project managed by Emma Hanford. The garden was officially opened by Alan Titchmarsh on 18th July 2016.

Many companies and individuals, including C.A.R. Gardens supplied some of their time and materials at reduced costs, and even some for free. Most plants were donated by Hillier Garden Centres, and seeds donated by Mr Fothergills were grown on by Forest View Nursery.

There are so many people to thank and this list is not exhaustive, but we should also be thanking Chris Peck who was incredibly generous, Westridge Skips, Isle of Wight Compost, The Forge, Sydenhams, Wight Building Materials, Hillier Landscapes, and the many free hours donated for planting by numerous volunteers from the Island and mainland.

Features:

• Numerous seating areas, allowing for private conversations, places to settle and relax.
• Stabilised Gravel paths and seating areas for good wheel chair and bed access.
• Resin bound shingle paths, offering good all abilities and wheel chair access.
• Paving slabs laid into paths add a further sensory effect whilst passing over by foot, wheelchair or bed.
• Planting for seasonal interest. A soft relaxing and beautiful theme. Lots of colour and scent; and attractive to wildlife.
• Stone sculptures give an effect of a meandering stream, threading through the garden.
• A bespoke Cedar deck imitating a cross section of wood.
• A cascading three tier water feature, with seating area coping stones and safe access for finger dipping to the top pool for added sensory effects. Automatically turns off when dark.
• Many materials used in the construction were recycled, local and sustainable.
• Electrical work by Stephen Robbins ‘Crystal Solutions’.
• Pond fibreglass lining and pump installation by ‘Aquascapes Water Gardens’.

Matthew Wilson, Director Matthew Wilson Gardens wrote:

“It can be a challenging task to successfully rebuild a Chelsea Flower Show garden. What you get to work with is a kit of parts that were designed to work in a very different place for a limited time. Craig and his team did a superb job of unpicking that lit of parts and rebuilding it in a way that strongly evokes the original garden but makes it work in a new location and for a very specific set of users. The standard of finish is excellent and throughout the build the C.A.R. Gardens team showed commitment, skill and dedication. I’m as proud to be associated with the new garden as I was when it was at Chelsea.”

Nigel Hartley, CEO Earl Mountbatten Hospice wrote:

“Craig and his team from C.A.R. Gardens installed the new Chelsea Garden at Earl Mountbatten Hospice which was made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Greenfingers Charity. It is obvious that Craig and the team are experts in their field and the professionalism of the team which was displayed by both competence and behaviour fitted well into the ethos and environment of the hospice. They were engaged and committed and I would recommend that anyone wanting a professional and confident service delivery and result, injected with an innate sense of calm and dignity use them.”

 

John Ashley, Chairman of Greenfingers Charity wrote:

“Greenfingers Charity has to rely on a network of experienced and reliable Landscapers. C.A.R. Gardens have worked for us on our 51^st garden project at the Earl Mountbatten hospice during the last six months. Craig (the owner) and his team have been fantastic in understanding the needs of both Greenfingers Charity and the hospice. Craig is professional, knowledgeable and diligent. His attention to detail is meticulous. Both he and his team have gone the extra mile with regard to this project whatever the weather! ” 

 

Emma Hanford, Garden projects manager of Greenfingers Charity wrote:

“Craig and the C.A.R. Gardens team have worked seamlessly with Greenfingers Charity to re-create the beautiful Chelsea Flower Show 2015 garden at Earl Mountbatten hospice, designed by Matthew Wilson, for the benefit of all families and carers using the hospice. They worked sensitively and diligently with the Greenfingers and hospice teams on a complicated brief – constructing a complete re-designed garden using many of the original Chelsea show garden features, helping to find new solutions that would work in the hospice environment and working with endless professionalism and patience over a year-long planning and construction period.  They were also extremely generous with their time and charitable donations, for which we are all incredibly grateful. C.A.R. Gardens used their extensive contacts on the Isle of Wight to access many local contractors and materials, making this a true Island community garden.  I would highly recommend on any garden project, large or small, as they can be relied upon to understand the client’s needs and work to a high standard at all times.”