A NEW garden being created for the Primrose Hospice will go on display at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival.
The plot is the brainchild of Marc and Darryl Harbourne-Bessant from Bromsgrove company FB and Sons Lawns and Landscapes which wanted to design a mindful retreat offering solace, space for reflection and a deep connection to the past and present.
The garden has been inspired by the landscapes surrounding the hospice and the historic life of St Godwald. The hospice is on St Godwald’s Road and the church named after the saint is also nearby.
After losing the garden’s main sponsor, FB and Sons has launched a fundraising page for people to pledge cash to the project.
All of the patrons’ name swill appear on a special plaque when the garden is relocated back into the hospice grounds – scheduled for September this year.
There it will be a quiet and peaceful space for reflection and a sanctuary for the whole community to enjoy.
The design
The garden will encompass a variety of features, including a ‘wind telephone’ housed in a hand-crafted wattle and daub gazebo. A wind phone is not connected to wires or any ‘earthly system’. It was originally created in Japan by Itaru Sasaki as a way to hold one-way conversations with loved ones who had died. The wind phone will be one of just five in the UK and will add to the tranquil environment.
Another feature will be the Primrose Memory Tree which will be temporarily relocated to the show garden. The tree, bearing the names and stories of those cherished, offers a place to celebrate life and share memories and is a symbol of a life loved.
The garden will also boast a mindful labyrinth of scented herbs, a wildflower glade and textured standing stones, inspired by the ancient landscapes of Brittany where St Godwald lived centuries ago.
Through the materials used, there will be an emphasis on sustainability. Reclaimed stone, UK-grown timber and other repurposed items will all reduce the garden’s carbon footprint, while pathways of crushed whelk shells – a fishing by-product – highlight the beauty of thoughtful reuse.
The planting is rooted in native species, chosen for their resilience, medicinal history, and role in supporting biodiversity.
‘Raising awareness’
FB and Sons and the Primrose are delighted with the link-up and excited about the garden’s creation.
Marc said: “We knew we wanted to design a garden space for a hospice as we are all too aware of the incredible work hospices do across the country.
“From our first visit to Primrose, we could see how vital their work is to support patients and families.
“The Day Hospice site in Bromsgrove has beautiful grounds that are used extensively by the children and families of those in Primrose’s care.”
Angelique Dalton, the Primrose CEO, said: “The opportunity for the Hospice to be part of the RHS Malvern Show is just incredible and would not have been possible without the support of Marc, Darryl and the FB and Sons team.
“We are all so excited the garden will be transported and planted here at the hospice after the show has finished.
“This will enable the patients and clients we support, as well as our volunteers and staff, to benefit from this beautiful garden.
“We cannot wait.”
They added whilst they were aiming for a highly-coveted gold medal at RHS Malvern, the garden’s inclusion would hopefully raise awareness of the work the Primrose does.
Angelique added: “That is enough of a reward for us.”
The fundraising page has a target of £6,000 and more than £2,000 has been pledged so far.
Visit: gofundme.com/f/st-godwalds-retreat-a-show-garden-for-rhs-malvern-2025/ to donate.
