New garden built for Cornish hospice

The garden was originally a project at the 2023 BBC Gardeners' World Live event

A garden specially designed to help patients has been created for a Cornish hospice.

Cornwall Hospice Care said the Fontana Tranquillity Garden has been built at its Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell based on a design from donor Derek Bishop and landscape gardener Kim Parish.

The charity said the garden which includes water features, tropical plants and a tree house has been designed to be accessible for wheelchair users and bed-bound patients.

Mr Bishop, who owns the Fontana Garden at Trenython Manor hotel in Par, said he hoped the garden - which has its formal opening on Sunday - would be enjoyed for many years.

The garden was originally a project featured at last year's BBC Gardeners’ World Live event in Birmingham, taking home a silver merit for its design.

Derek Bishop thought offering the garden to the hospice would be better than leaving a donation in his will

After the show, Mr Bishop said he decided to make an offer to have the garden rebuilt at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice, which Cornish Hospice Care agreed to.

The 92-year-old added he thought it was better to give the garden to the charity, rather than a financial donation in his will.

Mr Bishop said: "I hope when I've passed away in 20 years' time this garden will still be here and people and patients and the staff will be enjoying it."

The garden includes a tree house and tropical plants

Ms Parish said reconstructing the design was challenging with the wet weather during the winter and spring delaying the process.

However, she was "immensely proud" to get the project finished and of how the garden looked.

"I think we've made something special that will help people in a very difficult time whether personally or with loved ones or in a work environment," she said.

"It's just going to blossom and get better."