The Chelsea Flower Show is the most famous flower show in the UK. It attracts visitors from all over the world.

This year St George’s Neonatal charity First Touch teamed up with award-winning landscape designer Patrick Collins to create a garden inspired by the strength and determination shown by premature babies and their families.

Patrick, who received a gold medal at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show, was happy to donate his time and expertise. He hoped it would be a way of saying thank you to the St George’s Neonatal medical staff who cared for his daughter Isabel.

Chief executive of the trust, Miles Scott, with Patrick Collins the designer of the garden and four children treated at the neonatal unit.

Chief executive of the trust, Miles Scott, with Patrick Collins the designer of the garden and four children treated at the neonatal unit.

A lot of hard work is needed to showcase a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. Local company Landscape Associates offered to help build the garden and hospital staff were asked if they wanted to donate their time. The response was overwhelming and soon there was an army of volunteers queuing up to get their hands dirty.

Clinical staff and members of the hospital gardening team worked alongside Mums, Dads, families and friends of babies who had been cared for at St George’s Neonatal Unit. The project also received support in the form of donated plants, loaned equipment and volunteer photographers.

The team worked tirelessly to create what we think you’ll agree is a truly stunning garden, which you may have seen in the Evening Standard or regularly on the BBC. The enthusiasm and passion for the project was evident, even infectious with all visitors to the garden expressing their admiration for the design and commending the efforts of First Touch.

The show closes on Saturday24th May when the gardens will be dismantled. However, the excitement won’t end then as part of Patrick’s creation will be brought to St George’s and replanted on site. This will create a mini garden here, which we know patients, staff and hospital visitors will enjoy.

We would like to say a huge congratulations to the First Touch team for a wonderful effort! If you want to vote for the First Touch garden to receive this year’s People’s Choice Award you have until midnight Thursday 22nd May to cast your vote!

To learn more about First Touch, our charity for the past 15 years, and the work they do for the hospital go to http://www.first-touch.org.uk/