University Hospital Llandough takes on RHS competition

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board with University Hospital Llandough participated in RHS Cardiff’s Blossoming Beds competition, from April 12 to 14.

The competition is new to the RHS Flower Show. The objective is to create a pocket of spring colour and interest that will inspire visitors and could be recreated at home.

This year’s theme is health and wellbeing in gardening.

The Health Board’s entry was designed by garden designer Eileen Wood and is titled "We Grow Better Tomorrows When We Plant Good Seeds Today".

The Blossoming Beds entry depicts a ‘mini snapshot’ of the seven acre site named "Our Orchard" at UHL.

Our Orchard will bring a community orchard to the fields surrounding the hospital site, the first project of its kind at a hospital site in the UK.

Apple trees and an old gate invite the visitor to enter Our Orchard, while large boulders, repurposed from a construction project, create an interesting ‘fence’.

Planting inspired by the area around the hospital is food productive, pollinator and wildlife friendly.

The garden title is taken from an inspiring art installation within Hafan y Coed Hospital at UHL.

Logs are used to create a hog log and insect home, and the stepping stones and sculpture ‘Form From Nature’ are inspired by the natural world.

Sculptures help set the scene from local artist JK Brown and Dilys Jackson.

Ms Wood said: “I’m delighted to be involved, not only with the RHS Blossoming Beds competition but in the Our Orchard project as a whole. I believe that this entry will help us show the good work that is taking place to create an orchard as an area of health and wellbeing for our staff, patients and the local community to use.

“We hope this garden inspires everyone to join us in the activity of generational gardening, building connections with people and nature to create new memories.”

Dr Rhys Jones, presenter and senior lecturer at Cardiff University School of Biosciences and international ambassador for Our Orchard Project said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be involved at University Hospital Llandough. Orchards are typically havens for wildlife, providing food and shelter for thousands of animals and plants.

“I’d like to wish the team good luck for the competition – hopefully it will inspire gardeners of the future with new ideas of how to promote pollination in their own gardens.”

Simone Joslyn, Head of Arts and Health Charity for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “I’d like to thank Men’s Shed Cardiff, the activities team at Hafan y Coed Hospital, Natural Resources Wales and our community volunteers for helping to make this project possible.

“Cardiff & Vale Health Charity has proudly supported this project, which is helping towards meeting our aims for the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act – A Healthier Wales by encouraging more people to get outdoors, into their gardens and create something wonderful for people to enjoy."

Romilly Financial, a long standing financial planning firm based in Penarth has pledged support to one of the gardens featured in the RHS flower show. The garden designed by Pete Donegan of Donegan Gardens and built by Burnham Landscaping is hoping to secure a Gold Award in its category. Peter Donegan, an award winning garden designer wanted to build something that would ultimately help others. They are building for Perennial, the gardeners royal benevolent charity and then transporting it to the grounds of Veterans Growth who offer support to ex-servicemen suffering with post conflict mental health.

David Stealey, the managing director of Romilly Financial said: “We are really pleased to offer our support for such a worthy cause, the work and effort that goes into building this garden then taking it apart and building it again is astounding. We can’t wait to see the finished project and hopefully celebrate a gold award or even best in show.”

To make a donation to Our Orchard project please visit the Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/wegrow