Macmillan Legacy Garden A First For RHS Cardiff Flower Show
Apr
A single legacy left to Macmillan, no matter what size, is important and valuable – that is the theme of the first ever Macmillan garden to be created for RHS Flower Show Cardiff.
The Macmillan Legacy Garden has been designed in kind for free by Melinda Thomas from Llancarfan and aims to promote the importance of gifts in wills. Visitors will be able to visit the garden, which is designed to be restful and inviting, throughout the RHS Show (17-19 April 2015).
Legacy donations, or gifts in wills, make up almost a third of Macmillan’s annual donations, playing a vital role in ensuring the charity is able to provide support to people affected by cancer.
Bridgend-born royal fashion designer David Emanuel will open the Macmillan garden. Former I’m a Celebrity contestant David was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012 and is now a Macmillan Ambassador.
Garden designer Melinda Thomas, 48, is currently studying Horticulture and Landscape Design at Bridgend College. This is her first solo show garden. Her previous involvement at the RHS Flower Show Cardiff was in a joint initiative between the college and Cardiff City Council in 2014 which achieved a Bronze medal.
Melinda Thomas said:
“Most people know someone affected by cancer. The landlady in our village pub always takes part in Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – so I’ve always been very aware of Macmillan.
“What really resonated with me as I was designing the garden is that no matter how big or small a legacy –funds that are donated to Macmillan are important and the foundation of its work. This is what I’ve tried to visualise through the low walls that weave through the space.
“I wanted the Macmillan Legacy Garden to be somewhere for contemplation, quiet, peaceful, somewhere for people to feel comfortable. It needs to be inviting and features lots of natural, semi-shaded plants, using lots of green and white.”
There are currently 130,000 people are living with cancer in the Wales – a number set to double by 2030. Without the necessary funding, helping people to reclaim their lives from cancer through medical, practical, financial or emotional support, will prove more of a challenge than ever.
Jonathan Frost, Macmillan’s Legacy Manager said: “We hope that the theme of the Macmillan Legacy Garden this year will inspire visitors to think about leaving a legacy. Many people don’t realise that gifts in wills can be of any shape and size. Just £50 will pay for two hours of a Macmillan nurse’s time.”
To find out more about leaving a gift to Macmillan in your will call 0800 107 4448 or visit macmillan.org.uk/legacies
