Leading childhood cancer charity, Children with Cancer UK, is exhibiting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024, as it sponsors aspiring garden designer Thomas Clarke.
The Raines Repurposed Balcony Garden, sponsored by Children with Cancer UK, is designed by young gardener Thomas Clarke, from North Yorkshire, and will be exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 21 to 25 May 2024.
Thomas is working in partnership with Children with Cancer UK as the garden designer for Raines Retreat in Yorkshire, a brand-new retreat the charity is creating for families affected by childhood cancer.
Thomas’ garden design at RHS Chelsea is inspired by Raines Retreat, and aims to create a space that allows young cancer patients and their families to reconnect, immerse themselves in nature, and enjoy a moment of rest and calm during their cancer journey.
Sustainability is at the heart of Thomas’ design and he took inspiration from local materials, repurposing those that would otherwise have gone to waste. 80% of his garden design consists of materials from the original Raines Farm, as a celebration of the retreat’s origins.
Amar Naher at Children with Cancer UK, said:
“We are incredibly proud to sponsor Thomas Clarke at RHS Chelsea, as he unveils his debut garden at the show. Inspired by those affected by cancer, the garden is designed to offer a moment of peace and reflection for young cancer patients and their families. It’s also a glimpse of the environment we’re creating at Raines Retreat, which we’re excited to reveal more about soon.
“Thomas is such a young and exciting design talent and he has created a truly unique sanctuary where patient families can enjoy a safe and calming space, immersed in nature. Following its debut at RHS Chelsea, we’re so pleased that this special garden will return to Raines Retreat where it will be enjoyed by families once the retreat opens.”
Thomas Clarke trained at The Inchbald School of Design in Garden Design and shortly after received a Silver medal for Young Designer at the 2022 RHS Tatton Park Show, for his garden ‘Paradise Found’. He said:
“RHS Chelsea is such a prestigious event and it has always been a professional aspiration to exhibit there. The exposure for any aspiring designer is immense and it also provides a great platform to highlight the important work of Children with Cancer UK. It’s my personal aim to create sustainable spaces where people can connect with each other and nature, and I hope this garden provides a haven for young cancer patients and their loved ones.”
Amar Naher at Children with Cancer UK added:
“We hope that this special collaboration helps to raise awareness of childhood cancer, and the challenges that patient families must face every day. As a charity, it’s our mission to fund vital scientific research into the causes of cancer, support families and increase understanding. We hope that visitors to the garden will be motivated to donate or fundraise, as every pound raised makes a huge difference in supporting our ongoing work.”
Children with Cancer UK is the leading national children’s charity working towards a world where every child survives cancer.
Survival rates for children’s cancers are improving. Fifty years ago, three-quarters of children diagnosed with cancer died; today more than 8 in 10 children diagnosed with cancer in the UK survive. However, with around 4,200 new cases each year in the UK, it is still one of the leading causes of death for children and young people.
The Raines Retreat from Children with Cancer UK is currently in development and further announcements will be made later this year.
