900 plants added to hospital’s AMAFFI wellbeing garden
Hundreds of commemorative plants for COVID victims have been given to a wellbeing garden to remember 900 victims at a London hospital trust.
HRH King Charles and former Health Secretary Matt Hancock visited the AMAFFI wellbeing garden at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The King planted a multi-stemmed medlar tree (Mespilus germanica), and Mr Hancock planted a Cornus kousa. The medlar was originally to appear at the 2020 RHS Chelsea Flower Show before cancellation due to lockdown.
AMAFFI Perfume House gave the garden to the trust in May 2020 to thank staff for their work. Now AMAFFI and Form Plants donated 900 plants, one for every victim, which has added extra poignancy to the garden. Form Plants’ Jamie Butterworth designed the garden.
The 250 sqm garden gives staff and patients respite in nature while visiting and staying at the hospital. The aromatic and calming garden is a bright and beautifully scented space, filled with perennials.
Scented space for respite and reflection
It centres around large scented, topiary domes and several multi-stem trees, including Cornus, medlars and Viburnum. Lush foliage peeps out from under the tree canopy. Combinations of roses, dianthus, iris, alliums, lupins and salvia provide colour. Scented evergreen shrubs, including Sarcococca hookeriana and Osmanthus Burkwoodii form topiary balls to provide year-round structure.
The commemorative plants for COVID victims include:
- Geums Prinses Juliana and Totally Tangerine, Salvia caradonna and Anchusa Dropmore in the shady bed.
- Large dark pots in the shady bed contain Rosa Munstead Wood surrounded by Erigeron karvinskianus.
- A ribbon of plants that joins the garden’s two areas includes Astrantia major Alba, Deschampsia cespitosa, Allium caerulean and Centranthus ruber albus.
- White pots in the open garden feature Allium Mont Blanc, Calamagrostis Karl Foerster, Geranium phaeum album, Nepeta Six Hills Giant, Salvia Ostfriesland and Prunus Accolade.
- Other trees include Cornus kousa, Milky Way, and a Mespilus germanica.
AMAFFI Perfume House’s founder and president, M. Amaffi, said: “We were only too pleased to gift the garden to Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as a gesture of gratitude to all medical personnel for their selfless work during the pandemic, in the hope that the beauty and fragrance of our carefully chosen flowers and shrubs would uplift patients and bring them comfort.
“These new plants echo our original vision of a fragrant retreat. We hope that our garden will enable visitors to immerse themselves in the restorative power of nature.”
Commemorative plants for COVID victims thanks
Lesley Watts, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, said: “This garden has transformed what was a drab empty courtyard into something magnificent which has offered our staff and patients a sense of escapism during some very dark times.
“There is no doubt the healing power of nature brings a balm that’s been very much needed during this pandemic. We are grateful to AMAFFI for donating the garden after RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020 was cancelled and to Form Plants for the donation of plants that honour those who have lost their lives. These acts of kindness and generosity will touch many hearts.”
Form Plants’ Jamie Butterworth said: “The human cost of the pandemic has been truly terrible. A year after creating the AMAFFI garden, to now make space for 900 new plants is a deeply moving experience. Each plant represents a life lost to this awful virus. The process of bedding each one into the earth has been a sobering and deeply mindful experience.
