The Teapot Trust, a Scottish charity which offers art therapy to children and young people living with chronic conditions, will have the chance to show off the power of art therapy at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show which takes place from the 23rd to 27th May.

The Teapot Trust Elsewhere Garden, which explores the transformative power of art therapy for children with chronic illnesses, is a partnership between the Scottish art therapy charity and Scottish-Swiss design studio Semple Begg. It marks a rare Chelsea appearance for Scottish charities and designers, made possible by a grant from Project Giving Back, which provide funding for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. 

Teapot Trust is a charity at the forefront of transformative mental health support that provides art therapy to children, young people and their families living with chronic conditions. One in four children and young people in the UK live with the pain and stigma of chronic health conditions that cause anxiety and depression. Almost a third of those under 21 who take their own lives have a long-term chronic illness. Sarah Randell, Chief Executive of Teapot Trust, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have a show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Our garden designers have done a fabulous job creating the ‘Elsewhere Garden’, which perfectly illustrates the escape that art therapy gives children from the pain and stigma of a chronic health condition, allowing them to express and process their feelings about their diagnosis, their treatment regime, and the wider impact of their condition on daily life.”

The Teapot Trust Elsewhere Garden was created by talented garden designers Nicola Semple and Susan Begg, who are incredibly skilled at telling a story through planting. With over 30 combined years of experience, Nicola and Susan started Semple Begg in 2014, with a Swiss practice opening in 2018. ‘Elsewhere’ features a ‘dolly mixture’ stream which brims with bright candelabra primulas. Coloured panels feature simplified children’s artwork, while kinetic sculptures and sound art illustrates the power of art to unlock the imagination, encouraging us to see and hear in new ways. Susan explained, “The Elsewhere Garden represents a child’s imagination as it blossoms in response to the freedom gifted by art therapy. Through this escape into art, children find coping strategies to deal with life.” Nicola added, “For inspiration, we looked to Willy Wonka’s factory, to Oz and Wonderland. Where colour is vivid and exuberant, shape and form are exaggerated. And, where the inner world of a child’s anxiety is expressed as an outer wonderland.”

Following the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, the garden will be relocated to its permanent home at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, which serves social need areas where chronic illness in children is two and a half times more prevalent. As an inclusive space to help overcome barriers to accessing healthcare, it will be used for outdoor art therapy, and all patients and visitors will be welcome.

Commenting on the relocation Prof Tom Steele, Director of Estates and Facilities for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said, “We are delighted to be receiving this unique garden space which I am sure will have an instant benefit for our patients, families and staff. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde manages a diverse portfolio of land across central Scotland that has the potential to improve the wellbeing of surrounding communities by enhancing the environment and creating green spaces which improve mental and physical health. 

Increasing evidence links access and use of green space to a multitude of healthcare benefits. Recognising the health and social benefits of high-quality green space leads to better outcomes, not only for patients, but for staff and the wider community and is a priority for NHSGGC. Our experience throughout the pandemic has shown us that access to high-quality external space is essential for wellbeing.”

TEAPOT TRUST
0131 273 4340 | info@teapot-trust.org | teapot-trust.org

SEMPLE BEGG
07920 094 629 | studio@semplebegg.com | semplebegg.com