The Fontana Tranquillity Hospice Garden has quite a story to tell. It was first designed by 92 year old Derek Bishop from Tywardreath and Kim Parish of Landscapes of Distinction at Mitchell, to be showcased at last year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live event in Birmingham (2023).  It won a Silver Merit and has since then been transported back to Cornwall and redesigned by Kim for Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell.

A garden with a purpose

“We wanted the garden to have a purpose,” says Derek who owns the beautiful Fontana Garden at Trenython on the outskirts of Tywardreath.

“We had the idea of donating it to the hospice where it will now provide a magical garden for patients to find peace, comfort and calm for patients, their carers, families and friends, the staff and volunteers. Kim and I designed the garden together so that it could feature at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live event and then be transported back to Cornwall.”

Tree house centrepiece

At the centre of the new Fontana Tranquillity Garden is a replica of the stunning Tree House that features in Derek’s own garden from where Kim took much of her inspiration. She wanted the design to reflect the diversity of Cornwall’s gardens;

“We designed the garden to showcase the best of Cornwall’s planting, while also offering space to relax and enjoy the surroundings. The Tree House is very definitely the centre piece and a perfect acknowledgement of Derek’s own garden and his generosity.”

Eye catching plants and views

Kim continues;

“Tree ferns (Dicksonia) are centre stage of the semi shaded garden and will lead you through to the tropical zone where the banana plants (Musa) occupy pride of place. A patio surrounded by Mediterranean planting, provides an opportunity to sit or indeed lie in a hospice bed and view the garden and of course the focal point is the magnificent tree house, which creates a viewing platform into the garden and the tranquil landscape beyond, a room outside to enjoy a garden for all seasons.”

Official opening

It’s taken a year to recreate the Fontana Tranquillity Garden in the grounds of Mount Edgcumbe Hospice and with an army of staff, volunteers and local companies.  Their collective efforts came together on Sunday 23rd June 2024 when the magical garden for patients was officially opened by its donor Derek Bishop in front of an audience of invited guests.

Derek and his partner Marina Rickard spoke of their delight that the garden was already being used by patients and their families and thanked co-garden designer Kim Parish and the many friends and family who helped through the garden’s journey. Tea and a range of delicious cakes, produced by the hospice’s Chef Stuart White and his team, were served to the gentle sound of harp music provided by volunteer Alison, who’s known as Luna the Harp.

In memory of Shani Wetton

During the opening ceremony Derek unveiled a plaque on the Tree House to mark the occasion and to acknowledge the memory of Marina’s sister Shani Wetton who was cared for at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice.

A valuable outdoor extension to the hospice

Lisa Shephard is Cornwall Hospice Care’s Clinical Lead;

“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.  It’s overlooked by four of our hospice rooms and our patient conservatory, benefitting patients who can either enjoy the view of it or go outside and experience it at first hand. It’s well thought out design has created very accessible areas and that means we can take patients out in their beds and in wheelchairs.”

The story of the Fontana Tranquillity Garden on film

Follow this LINK to view a film made by Cornwall Hospice Care that tells the story of the Fontana Tranquillity Garden, from it’s appearance at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live event in 2023 to it’s arrival at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell.