Cornwall Hospice Care Unveils Magical Garden for Patients

A Garden with a Journey: The Fontana Tranquillity Garden Opens at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice

Cornwall Hospice Care has unveiled a magical new garden for patients at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell. The Fontana Tranquillity Garden, which has a remarkable backstory, was formally opened on Sunday, 23rd June at 3:30 PM.

From Birmingham to Cornwall: The Garden’s Transformation

The Fontana Tranquillity Garden was originally designed by 92-year-old Derek Bishop from Tywardreath and Kim Parish of Landscapes of Distinction at Mitchell. It was showcased at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live event in Birmingham last year, where it won a Silver Merit. Following its success, the garden was transported back to Cornwall and redesigned by Kim for Mount Edgcumbe Hospice, a facility run by the Cornish charity, Cornwall Hospice Care.

“We wanted the garden to have a purpose,” said Derek, who owns the beautiful Fontana Garden at Trenython. “We had the idea of donating it to the hospice where it will now provide a place to find peace, comfort, and calm for patients, their carers, families and friends, the staff and volunteers.”

A Garden Reflecting Cornwall’s Diversity

The centrepiece of the Fontana Tranquillity Garden is a replica of the stunning Tree House featured in Derek’s own garden, which served as a significant inspiration for Kim. “We wanted the garden to showcase the best of Cornwall’s planting,” explained Kim Parish. The garden includes tree ferns (Dicksonia) leading to a tropical zone dominated by banana plants (Musa). A Mediterranean-themed patio offers a peaceful spot to sit or lie in a hospice bed, with the tree house providing a viewing platform into the garden and the tranquil landscape beyond.

A Sanctuary for All

Lisa Shephard, Cornwall Hospice Care’s Clinical Lead, expressed gratitude for Derek’s generous donation. “We’re extremely humbled by Derek Bishop’s generous donation of the garden to our hospice where it offers a wonderful outdoor space for everyone from our patients and their carers, families, and friends to our own staff and volunteers,” she said. The garden is accessible, allowing patients to enjoy its beauty whether from their rooms, the patient conservatory, or even outside in their beds and wheelchairs.

A Legacy of Compassion

Mount Edgcumbe Hospice, Cornwall’s first hospice, opened in 1980 after a determined campaign led by founder Enid Dalton-White. The new Fontana Tranquillity Garden continues this legacy, offering a serene and restorative space for all who visit.

For more information about Cornwall Hospice Care and the services they provide, visit www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk.