Inspired by a campaign to rebuild the gardens of Derian House, its team and its army of volunteers wowed the judges and won gold at Chorley Flower Show

Named “giving nature a helping hand”, the garden featured saplings donated by the Woodland Trust, a selection of alpine plants, a handmade pond, and recycled materials made from the trees that were cut down in the hospice gardens – including a sculpted wooden hand. 

The garden, as part of the Community and Schools Garden Competition, tells the story of Build-A-Forest – the hospice’s campaign to rebuild its woodland areas after more than 150 trees were cut down in its gardens due to ash dieback disease.

Derian House’s Build-A-Forest campaign is still ongoing, and volunteers have planted 250 new trees in the gardens thanks to the charity’s supporters.

The garden received a gold awardThe garden received a gold award (Image: Derian House)

The garden was on display at Chorley Flower Show, which took place at Astley Park last weekend, and took home the gold award.

It even impressed Speaker of the House of Commons, Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who was in attendance to see the stunning gardens on show.

Cameron Murray, communications and marketing manager at Derian House, said: “It was a real Derian team effort.

"Thank you to everyone, from staff to our wonderful volunteers, who helped make our garden look as fantastic as it does today.

“And thank you to everyone who has supported our Build-A-Forest campaign so far. With your help, we have been able to begin to replenish our woodland areas so that our families can enjoy them now and years into the future.”

Councillor Peter Wilson, deputy leader of Chorley Council, added: “I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with everyone at Chorley Flower Show.

"The community gardens in particular are spectacular this year. I would like to thank everyone who contributed and it’s really important that we maintain our partnerships with charities like Derian House who do such great work.”