Sebastian and the family’s haven is to be created by volunteers
A toddler suffering from cancer and his family have benefited from a garden makeover from RHS Chelsea champions Hillier Nurseries.
Since 2016, two-year-old Sebastian Burrell has been undergoing treatment at the Royal London Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. He has also been receiving support from Wessex Cancer Trust.
Wessex Cancer Trust is the charity partner of Hillier. They wanted to put their horticultural knowledge and expertise to good use to do something special for the charity. To support Sebastian and his parents, Pippa and Daniel Burrell, who live in Fair Oak, near Winchester, Hillier has launched a garden renovation project.
Hillier’s garden revamp for toddler – DIY SOS-inspired project
The firm and its suppliers offered their services, and a team of more than 100 volunteers will work on a DIY SOS-inspired project to transform the Burrell’s garden.
The garden was created by the most decorated designer in Chelsea Flower Show history, Sarah Eberle, and Mark Tomlinson from MJT Landscapes, who built Hillier’s award-winning Chelsea gardens.
The family loves gardening and enjoys spending time together outdoors. They had plans to transform their back garden, but Sebastian’s illness and hospital treatments meant that the revamp fell to the bottom of the to-do list.
Transforming a garden
Chris Francis, Hillier Garden Centres and Wholesale Nurseries director, said: “We all wanted to do something special for our charity partner, Wessex Cancer Trust, by transforming a garden for one of their clients. When we met the Burrells and heard their story, we couldn’t wait to do this for them.
“At first, we wondered if maybe the project was a little too big to take on. Then we realised, with 73 Chelsea gold medals, a wonderful team of horticultural experts and a members’ club full of gardening enthusiasts, if anyone can do this, Hillier can!”
For more information, to follow the journey or to join the team of volunteers, visit www.hillier.co.uk.
