Always on
This project successfully funded on 13th May 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
'Summer of Love' a garden of love and courage
Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Aim
Support me to bring my garden design to life at BBC Gardeners World Live at the NEC in June!
Hi! My name is Sarah and I'm fundraising to support my entry to BBC Gardeners World Live Beautiful Borders competition!
A little about me and my project:
I'm a children's nurse by background, and have always worked with teenagers. I love working with this age group very much, growing in independence, misunderstood, and facing the unique challenges that adolescence brings. I currently work as a school nurse in Oxfordshire.
Alongside my nursing role I recently completed a gardening apprenticeship through the 'Work and Retrain as a Gardener Scheme'. It's thorough the scheme the opportunity to design and build a border at BBCGWL came about.
The theme for the show this year is 'Once upon a time..' and was inspired by my own teenage daughter and the challenges she has faced over the past 12 months. It links nicely the role of school nurses in supporting teenagers in school with their mental and physical health.
The garden has a lot of meaning, the planting based on the hidden meaning of flowers in floriography. I use thyme along a pathway to symbolise courage, protection and strength and plants within the border planting symbolise love and care. The finished garden a haven of love, protection, strength and courage.
Around 90000 people attend BBCGWL, a great opportunity to raise awareness of the work of a local charity who support young people. I am in talks with Banbury Young Homeless Project (BYHP) about fundraising for them at the show and about relocating elements of the garden design to their community garden after the show.https://www.byhp.org.uk/about-byhp
I have been successful in my application for 2 grants, one from WFGA and another from BBCGWL, and am hoping to raise another £1200 to make the garden as good as it can be. Any funds will be used directly for plants, hard landscaping, structures, transport etc and any additional funds will be donated directly to BYHP.
Any contribution large or small will be hugely appreciated.
Thank you for reading, I hope you will come on board!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made