In 2017 I decided to use my gardening skills to help a very special family whose 4-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. While going through treatment the family led a fundraising campaign (George and the Giant Pledge) to help other children with cancer. To date they have raised in excess of £1 million.

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The local community supported the campaign in huge numbers but we wanted to do something to benefit the Woodall family directly. Their garden was steep, overgrown and ravaged by foxes. So we decided to create a Healing Garden in which the family could rest and recuperate.

 

Woodall family friend, Penny Sims, and I coordinated local companies and 99 volunteers to tackle the clearance and landscaping. 

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The following year, the decked areas and retaining sleeper walls were built by John Michael of A Brighter Shade of Green who donated his labour and negotiated huge discounts on materials - including Stop Digging ground screws from The Great British Ground Screw Company and Trex Decking.

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In Spring 2019 the lawn was turfed by the guys from Lewington Landscapes (who'd helped us out on several previous days with clearance). I then started fine tuning planting plans. The family are so dedicated to their charitable works that they haven’t had time to finalise planting decisions yet but I hope to complete the garden next year. 

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I am pleased to report that the family are all enjoying the space, chilling out, playing football and entertaining friends and it's wonderful seeing George going from strength to strength as he recovers from his successful treatment. Go George!