New ‘White Garden’ features pebble trail created by school pupils

4 July 2018

A new ‘White Garden’ has been created at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) featuring a pebble trail made from stones hand painted by Shropshire schoolchildren.

Pupils from Crowmoor Primary School in Shrewsbury have decorated dozens of pebbles for the trail around the garden.

The White Garden features flowers and garden furniture that are all white, including primroses and roses. There are also white metal butterflies, that have been created and donated by the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry; a rose arch, seating and a pergola as the centrepiece of the garden.

The idea to involve the youngsters came from Kelly Jones, who helped to develop the plans for the White Garden. Kelly’s daughters – Madison and Sophie – both attend the school and have also painted stones.

As well as the pebble trail, two white roses, donated by Country Garden Roses, have been planted next to each other by Kelly in remembrance of her baby twin girls, Ella and Lola, who tragically died at the RSH in 2014. The roses are named after them.

The development of the White Garden follows a pledge by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) Board in September last year to create a genuine legacy for Kelly’s baby girls, and other families. The garden will be officially opened on Thursday 5 July – the 70^th anniversary of the NHS – by Trust Chair Ben Reid OBE and Kelly, who will cut a white ribbon. Alan Parkhurst, Headmaster of Crowmoor School, and some children from the school will be there, along with Madison and Sophie, to open the garden.

Kelly, who lives in Shrewsbury, said: “I have been overwhelmed by the support from the school for me and my girls. The pebbles that the children have painted are fantastic, and I want to thank them and the school for helping us to create the trail.

“I went to the Board with a dream of a memorial garden. In less than nine months the White Garden has been created to give peace and tranquillity for all those who need a safe space. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to make this happen.”

Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Governance at SaTH, said: “The White Garden will provide a really beautiful, tranquil place for our patients and their families, visitors and staff.

“So much thought has gone into every detail of the garden; and we are particularly grateful to Kelly who has worked with us to create something that we believe is very special.

“We would also like to thank the pupils at Crowmoor Primary School for their wonderful contribution; and The British Ironwork Centre for their very kind donation of the white butterflies.”

The trail is to be expanded in the future, and there will be an opportunity for everyone to create their own pebble to include in memory of someone; something that makes them happy or in honour of someone they love.