RHS award-winning garden donated to Louth Hospice

The garden, titled ‘Nature and Nurture’ is set to be installed at the flagship day hospice in Louth and combines green spaces for human health and wellbeing with nature conservation.

Caitlin McLaughlin, 26, from Northamptonshire, was this year’s Young Designer winner, and chose to donate the garden after St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice cared for her friend Jane McCarthy, in her final days.

Caitlin said: “It is a real pleasure to be able to donate my show garden as a memorial garden for our dear family friend Jane.

“I really wanted to do something in her memory and to bring comfort to others in the hospice that may need a garden space to relax in.

“My garden for Tatton Park takes the RHS theme, which is Health, Happiness and Horticulture, and combines it with my interest in nature conservation.

“I’m thrilled to win Gold and the Young Designer of the Year award. It’s been a challenge to get here, but I’m so happy all my hard work has paid off.”

St Barnabas is the principal provider of end-of-life care across East Lindsey and has run Louth Hospice on Grimsby Road since it first opened its doors to clients more than two years ago.

Nicky Ingall, general manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Caitlin has chosen to donate her stunning and award-winning garden to our hospice.

“It will be a welcome addition to our outdoor space and I am confident that it will be enjoyed by our patients and their families and our staff and volunteers.

“Having access to outdoor space is really important to the health and wellbeing of our patients and studies show that it has therapeutic benefits and encourages 
relaxation.

“We are looking forward to the garden being completed and inviting our local community in to enjoy it.”

The garden will be installed from July 28, before being officially opened in September.