Havens House Children’s Hospice, Greenfingers Charity

In 2019 Thomas was invited to assist in the development of an existing mature, wooded landscape so that it could become a usable, reflective and restorative refuge for the residence of the Havens House Children’s Hospice in Woodford Green, Essex.

Much of the work had already been created by nature; the mature trees bringing character and maturity, whilst the floor canopy was awash with spring bulbs – remnants of interventions by previous owners, the Mallinson Family, who were keen horticulturalists.

The obvious solution was to provide inclusive access into this beautiful landscape, rather than to be viewed from afar, so to ensure the users engaged with the calming and verdant effects this mature landscape already had to offer.

The proposals developed into a series of boardwalks connected to large ‘refuge’ platforms with a light touch intervention to the understory planting so that seasons of interest were extended and the experience was considered a sensory indulgence for all users of the gardens.