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Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, the Royal Patron of CHASE hospice care for children visited the Merrist Wood Campus of Guildford College on Wednesday, June 1 to see the "Journey of the Senses" garden under construction for Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July.
The garden, designed by two former students, Jo Ward-Ellison and Janette Dollamore , is being built by a team of staff and students at Merrist Wood on behalf of CHASE.
From left: Geoff Forster, Horticulture Lecturer, Janette Dollamore , garden designer and HRH The Countess of Wessex.
Her Royal Highness was met at Merrist Wood's Landscape Workshop by Michael More-Molyneux, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Surrey , who presented to her Guildford College Principal Clive Cooke and Angela Gunning, the Deputy Mayor of Guildford .
She also met CHASE Chief Executive Chris Robinson, Chairman Stephen Walls and his wife Jackie and Mandy Blanks, PR Manager at Standard Life Healthcare, sponsors of the garden. The Countess was then introduced to the garden designers Janette Dollamore and Jo Ward-Ellison, lecturers and students, and was presented with a posy arranged by floristry students, by Cathie Prest, Vice Principal for Learners,
The idea for the garden came from CHASE PR manager Christine Napthine , who saw that a garden at a big RHS show could help promote the charity, which supports life-limited youngsters and their families in Surrey and neighbouring areas. She approached Merrist Wood, which has won 36 medals at RHS shows, and a student project was set up with a brief to design a garden with teenagers in mind. The design by Jo and Janette - who won a silver medal at Hampton Court last year - impressed the judges by combining many sensory elements with appeal for young people.
Materials not traditionally associated with gardens, such as glass, metal, rubber and Perspex, feature in the design. Adventurous lighting, a contemporary water feature and contrasting tactile surfaces create a vibrant outdoor living space with special appeal for young adults. Plants were chosen primarily for their form and structure and to enhance the sensory experience.
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