Since 2016, two year old Sebastian Burrell, who lives in Fair Oak, near Winchester, has been undergoing treatment at the Royal London Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital as well as receiving support from Wessex Cancer Trust. He and his family have been selected to receive a garden makeover from the Chelsea Flower Show world-record holder, Hillier Nurseries, this summer.
Wessex Cancer Trust is the charity partner of the Hampshire based company which wanted to put its horticultural knowledge and expertise to good use to do something special for the charity and a local family.
To support Sebastian and his parents Pippa and Daniel Burrell, Hillier has launched a garden renovation project. In July, Hillier, its suppliers who have offered their services, and a team of over one hundred volunteers will embark upon its very own DIY SOS inspired project to transform the Burrell’s garden and create a haven for the family to enjoy.
The Burrells love gardening and enjoy spending time together outdoors. They had plans to completely transform their challenging back garden which was in great need of some attention into their dream family garden. However, Sebastian’s illness and hospital treatments, as well as juggling work and the challenges of family life, have meant that the garden has fallen to the bottom of the to-do list.
Hillier Garden Centres and Wholesale Nurseries director Chris Francis explained: “Here at Hillier, we all wanted to do something special for our charity partner, Wessex Cancer Trust, by transforming a garden for one of their clients. When we met the Burrells and heard their story, we couldn’t wait to do this for them. At first, we wondered if maybe the project was a little too big to take on, then we realised, with 73 Chelsea gold medals, a wonderful team of horticultural experts and a members club full of gardening enthusiasts if anyone can do this, Hillier can!”
The garden will be created by Hillier’s Chelsea designer, and the most decorated designer in Chelsea Flower Show history, Sarah Eberle, and Mark Tomlinson from MJT Landscapes, who builds Hillier’s award winning Chelsea gardens.
