A former gold medal winner is hoping to continue his success at this year’s Shrewsbury Flower Show with a specially designed rain garden, to be donated to a children’s hospice after the event.
Andi Way, of Boningale Garden Creations, based in Albrighton, has designed a garden which naturally collects rain water – great environmentally, but which will also be stimulating for the youngsters using the space once the competition is over.
The children will be able to touch and listen to the water, as well as have the stimulation of lots of brightly-coloured plants, many of them beautifully scented too.
The garden, as last year, has been sponsored by Pugh’s of Shrewsbury, who have also kindly agreed to donate it after the flower show on August 12 and 13, to Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry.
Mr Way explained he has visited the hospice, as part of his preparations for the design, which gave him the inspiration to use a sensory theme.
“Staff explained to me that the area is a really important piece of outdoor space for the youngsters at the hospice, plus their family and friends who come to visit, so my idea was to make it a really stimulating area, filled with sights, sounds and smells.
“The rain garden is designed and planted to make the best use of excess rainwater, which would usually just be lost down storm drains, and hopefully, the water element will add to the fun of the garden for the children.
Vanessa Thomas, fundraising manager at Hope House, said everyone is very excited about the competition, and can’t wait to see the finished results.
“The courtyard area is popular with the children because they love the outdoor space, but it is very plain right now, and I know it is going to be really well used when it’s been transformed.
“The sounds from the rainwater, together with the colours and smells of the plants will be a great stimulation, and we are really grateful to Pugh’s and Boningale Garden Creations for their generosity.”
Peter Forrest of Pugh’s, said he is hoping to repeat the success of last year’s event, both in terms of the medal-winning garden, and its use afterwards.
The entire 2010 garden was donated to the Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury, and painstakingly replanted at their site at Bicton Heath.
“We were thrilled with the design and planting of Andi’s garden last year, which deservedly won a top award – it was also very satisfying for us to see so many people getting continuing enjoyment from the garden, when it was transferred after the event, and if we could do the same for Hope House this year, that would be terrific,” said Mr Forrest.
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