The Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden
We shone a spotlight on grief by showcasing a special sensory garden at the world’s most famous flower show. Our Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden won a prestigious gold medal and was viewed by thousands of visitors at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May.
The garden, which was sponsored by Project Giving Back, explored the theme of grief and aimed to get people to start conversations. It also raised awareness of how our bereavement services support those living with grief, and their families and friends.
Gold medal-winning designer Katherine Holland drew on her own experiences of grief, designing the Grief Kind Garden with the intention of creating a peaceful sanctuary to sit and be enveloped in the beauty of nature.
“The Sue Ryder Grief Kind campaign is one that is so close to my heart,” said Katherine. “My own experiences of grief and other people’s misunderstanding of it has made me want grief to be talked about more openly.”
Grief Kind Garden designer, Katherine Holland, with Queen Camilla
During the show, the garden encouraged people to share their experiences of grief or take a moment for quiet reflection. We were honoured to have Queen Camilla pay a short visit. It was also visited by our Sue Ryder Ambassadors Lisa Riley and Richard Arnold, and other famous faces such as Kate Garraway and Tom Allen.
The garden is now being relocated to our hospice near Bedford. Its new location will provide a long-lasting legacy and offer a place of solace for staff, patients, their families and the local community.
Read Katherine’s tips on how to create a memory garden, where you can remember someone special in your very own green space.