An award-winning Chelsea Flower Show garden that found a permanent home at Mountbatten Isle of Wight has celebrated its 10th anniversary, with supporters, volunteers and staff gathering to mark the milestone.
July saw Mountbatten Isle of Wight celebrate ten years of its Chelsea Garden. It was officially opened, in 2016, by gardener, broadcaster and author, Alan Titchmarsh, CBE, who is now Mountbatten’s Patron.
Complete with cork and pomegranate trees, wispy grasses and a water feature, the garden was originally on display at the Chelsea Flower Show, before being recreated in the grounds of the Island’s only hospice.
A decade later, on Friday, 17th July, 2026, a celebratory afternoon tea was served up by the wonderful team behind Mountbatten’s cafe (which is open to the public in Newport’s John Cheverton Centre, Halberry Lane).
Party guests included representatives from organisations instrumental to the garden’s development, and the volunteers who continue to ensure it remains a vibrant and tranquil space, open to all.
Among the guests were Mountbatten Isle of Wight CEO, Becky McGregor, who said it was incredible to share memories from ten years ago. She said:
“It’s a really good example of people working together and of dots being joined, to make it work.
Article continues below this advertisement “Every day, people of all ages use this incredible garden. Everyone enjoys this space. In a hospice, it’s so important to be able to connect with nature, to have that time and space and to reflect on what’s going on, for people who are using our services but also their families and friends.”
This summer, as it is all year round, the garden is one of the many volunteer-tended outdoor spaces available to all, including cafe customers, visitors, the people being cared-for by Mountbatten, volunteers and staff.
The Chelsea Garden was designed by Matthew Wilson – his first show garden at Chelsea – and it was relocated to the Island with the support of Greenfingers Charity.
Isle of Wight High Sheriff, Nigel Hartley, MBE, the former Chief Executive of Mountbatten Isle of Wight, fondly remembers its official opened.
“It was a very hot day, just like this. It was a real celebration of Mountbatten’s relationship with the Isle of Wight community.
“Everyone was so pleased. We had an award-winning garden from Chelsea here on the Island, but to have it here at Mountbatten was really the icing on the cake. I think the relationship Mountbatten has with its local community is embodied in this garden. This garden belongs to the Isle of Wight, it just happens to sit here at Mountbatten.”
Mountbatten was chosen as the proud recipient of the garden in recognition of its work developing services for Island children and their families, with the support of Kissypuppy – The Sophie Rolf Trust.
Sophie’s dad, Aaron Rolf, co-founder of KissyPuppy, said:
“I can’t believe it’s been ten years since we opened the garden. It’s absolutely flown by. It looks fantastic, which is all down to the volunteers putting in the hard work. They do a fantastic job.”
Isle of Wight-based C.A.R. Gardens was commissioned to fit the Chelsea Garden in the space at Mountbatten Isle of Wight.
Managing Director, Craig Ratcliff, said:
“We feel very fortunate we were involved and that, ten years later, it’s still here being well looked-after by the hospice. I often pop in to have a look, just to see how it’s doing.
“I think it’s looking really beautiful. It’s lovely to hear the water feature bubbling away in the background as well, especially knowing how hard it was to actually build!”
Mountbatten Isle of Wight volunteer gardeners, Nicola and Jenny, are among those who have been taking care of the Chelsea Garden over the years.
Jenny said:
“The work is in maintaining the Chelsea Garden as it was originally planned, trying to keep it looking the same, so people can come and enjoy it. The feedback we get is about how lovely it is and how it helps people. That’s the thing that’s most important”.
Nicola added:
“It’s very relaxing.
“You can sit back and just enjoy being outside and, hopefully, it makes you feel better in difficult times. Anybody can come and visit the gardens and visit the café. It’s very therapeutic.”
Alison, from the Isle of Wight Green Gym, represented members who volunteer to look after green spaces, including at Mountbatten Isle of Wight. She said:
“It’s a pleasure to be here, because we have been involved with helping to maintain this garden on a few occasions, and it’s really beautiful. It’s lovely to know so many people can benefit from it.”
“The garden has been used for reflection, for events, for tea parties, for garden parties,” said High Sheriff Nigel Hartley. “I used to come and sit here very early in the morning, when I had a bit of a conundrum to work on. It is peaceful, and it really gives you space to think things through.”
The Chelsea Garden is open to the public. Drop by and enjoy lunch or coffee and cake, and take in the surroundings. You do not need to know someone at the hospice to pop in.
