Olivia Kirk Gardens - The Well Child Garden

The WellChild Garden
Silver-Gilt Medal
Chelsea Flower Show 2014

As I specialise in designing healing gardens, I was excited and honoured to be invited by WellChild to design their garden for Chelsea 2014. The charity provides practical and emotional support for seriously ill children and their families in the UK. The sensory garden I designed consists of an enclosed oasis, surrounded by a pictorial managed meadow - representing the care provided by the charity, and the on-going support offered by WellChild nurses to children in the community. Five paths, symbolizing the fingers of a hand from the charity's logo, lead the visitor on a journey of exploration between raised beds, to a curved 'sensory' wall', which hides functioning musical instruments, but also provides protection for the garden. The central pathway leads through the wall where a managed meadow and bronze sculpture can be glimpsed, representing the degree of normality the care of the charity can restore to families who have children with complex health issues.

The garden demonstrates the importance of horticultural therapy for children who may not have all five senses but can still react to the gardens pleasures.

The WellChild Garden re-location to The Brook Special School, Tottenham

As soon as The Chelsea Flower show finished the garden was carefully packed up and transported to The Brook Special School where a WellChild nurse is a member of staff, allowing children who wouldn't normally be able to experience school to do so. The garden was redesigned to expand into the larger space in the school grounds and be easily wheelchair accessible, however the central enclosed space and intimate feel of the garden remained. The build took place in the week of half-term - the delight and surprise on the faces of both the children and staff was a joy to see. It has been a privilege to be involved in both these projects.

TESTIMONIAL

We are delighted to have a garden at Chelsea and would like to thank Olivia for all the hard work and creativity she has put in to create a beautiful and meaningful garden for WellChild.
(Colin Dyer, Chief Executive of WellChild)

SPREADING
THE WORD

Tweets by @OliviaKirkGdns