Room to Breathe Hospital Garden
Gold Medal — RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
The Room to Breathe Hospital Garden for the TSA won Gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2025. Designed by Catherine Gibbon and Jen Donnelly, the garden is inspired by the healing power of nature and reimagines a hospital courtyard as a sanctuary — a calming space where parents and caregivers can escape, recharge, and find a quiet ‘Room to Breathe’.
A lasting legacy — after the show, the garden was reimagined at Amersham Hospital in Buckinghamshire, transforming an underused courtyard into a peaceful space for patients, staff and families.
Project details: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Award: Gold Medal (Container Gardens category)
Legacy location: Amersham Hospital, Buckinghamshire
Purpose: Restorative sanctuary for patients, caregivers and NHS staff
Transforming small garden spaces into sanctuaries
This project reflects my belief in the healing power of nature to reduce stress and enhance well-being. The Room to Breathe garden reimagines a clinical hospital courtyard as a sanctuary, a quiet refuge created for reflection and renewal. Every element is carefully designed to promote calm, comfort, and a peaceful moment to pause and recharge.
At the heart of the garden is a sculptural, cocoon-like hanging chair from Raw Studio — offering a comforting “hug” and a chance to pause, re-energise, and feel safe.
Layered planting in varied-height GRP Corten steel effect planters from Europlanters creates height and structure, enhancing the feeling of retreat.
The planting scheme is deliberately restrained to promote calm: a soothing palette of textured greens and whites illuminates the space, while pops of burgundy foliage add depth and interest.
Plant repetition, small tree specimens and vertical features like the arbour introduce height and enclosure without sacrificing ground space.
Warm limestone Zarah Beigh Drivesetts from ALLGREEN softens the space, complementing the Corten-effect planters for a cohesive finish.
A contemporary water feature with copper pipework enhances the tranquil atmosphere.
The pergola’s clever 45-degree design draws the eye upward and outward, making the space feel larger.
Photo Credits: Maria Savoskula and Ellie Walpole
Designing for wellbeing in healthcare settings
I volunteer at Amersham Hospital, supporting the rejuvenation of its gardens. This hands-on experience has shaped my approach to designing outdoor spaces that genuinely support wellbeing in healthcare environments.
The Room to Breathe project reflects nature’s quiet strength — a place to pause, reflect and renew, and a reminder of the vital role green spaces play in supporting mental and emotional health.
I am proud to have collaborated on this project with Jen Donnelly Garden Design, co-designer of the Room to Breathe Garden.