CHESTER-BASED landscape design company The Cheshire Garden has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for its application for the RHS Tatton Show.

Company founder Jane Bingham and colleague Penny Hearn have designed a conceptual show garden to commemorate Chester-based charity, Children Today Charitable Trust’s 25th anniversary.

Having been awarded silver-gilt in their first ever show garden at the RHS Tatton show in 2017, with their ‘Remember Me’ Dementia Garden, in conjunction with Mid Cheshire Hospital’s Charity, they are going for gold this year!

Jane said: “We saw what an amazing impact the garden had raising awareness about the charity’s cause in 2017, and ultimately funds for the charity itself as a result, after being featured on national and local news.

"So, we wanted to link with a charity for our second garden at Tatton. The work of Children Today really touched us and we wanted to be able to share their story.”

Children Today provides funds for specialised equipment for children and young people up to the age of 25 years old with disabilities, including adapted trikes, tough furniture and sensory equipment, for instance. The aim of the charity is to enable children with disabilities to achieve their full potential and live as independently as possible.

Children Today founder Hugh McCaw said: “We’re delighted that the Cheshire Garden has chosen to work with Children Today on this project.

“Ultimately, of course, our objective is to raise funds for equipment for children. However, we know that spreading the word about what Children Today does and how we help is crucial in generating the vital funds required for specialised equipment, which is so often prohibitively expensive for families but essential for the well-being and happiness of their children.

“Now in our 25th year, we really want to shout about how we’ve helped children like Angel, who has a rare congenital condition known as Dandy-Walker syndrome, leaving her severely disabled.

"We’ve funded multiple pieces of equipment to improve her quality of life and help her interact with her brother and sister. Perhaps more important though is spreading the message of what we plan to achieve over the next 25 years!”

The Cheshire Garden designers aim to raise £10,000 to fund the garden, which will be displayed at the RHS Tatton Show in July 2019, if they are successful in raising the funds.

Penny adds: “We’ve come up with a fantastic design for the garden using Children Today’s brand colours and kite motif as inspiration, focus on the theme of the charity’s objective in removing obstacles to support disabled children’s independence.

“The garden tells the story of the crucial stages faced by Children Today’s beneficiaries: obstacles; possibilities and hope and freedom.

"The design also celebrates Children Today’s success in enabling independence and transforming the lives of children with disabilities and their families. Plus, a bird’s eye view of the garden will reveal a wonderful surprise!”

The highest donor will be awarded two complimentary tickets to the RHS Tatton Show in July, with afternoon tea for two.

Following the show, all plants and other items included in the garden will be auctioned off on the last day to raise additional funds for Children Today.

  • To donate to the campaign, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thecheshiregardenforchildrentoday or to find out more about the campaign, email Jane on jane.bingham@thecheshiregarden.co.uk.