The inspiring new design has been created by the internationally acclaimed, five-times Chelsea Flower Show gold-winner Arabella Lennox-Boyd.  It will complement the spectacular Frank Gehry-designed building and has been donated for free by Arabella and funded by the generous support of local families, NHS Tayside and the in-kind support of Project Scotland.

Nigel Cayzer, Maggie’s Chairman, said: “Arabella’s landscape design for Maggie’s is great news for people visiting both Maggie’s and Ninewells Hospital and it is thanks to a unique partnership with NHS Tayside and our dedicated army of local supporters that this has been made possible. We are also most appreciative to be gifted this design by Arabella.”

Arabella Lennox-Boyd said: “Maggie Keswick Jencks was herself a successful landscape designer, and her original blueprint for centres placed great emphasis on the role of landscape and outdoor space in creating a relaxing environment, with the accent on stress reduction and healing.

“The design is influenced by classical Italian gardens. At its heart is a labyrinth, mirroring the quest for information and peace of mind undertaken by many cancer patients, who often liken their journey to navigating a maze. The labyrinth will also provide a large flat open area, which both the Hospital and Maggie’s can use for outdoor events. It also provides for a small garden that can be used by Maggie’s as an additional outside room in which to see patients and their families. The landscaping and planting plan calls for indigenous Scottish species to be incorporated with ornamental trees and shrubs to give colour and variation between spring and autumn.”

Practical considerations including parking and lighting, as well as improvements to the pathway between Maggie’s and Ninewells have also been addressed in the design so that visitors to the hospital receive a publicly accessible amenity of lasting value.   The landscape has been designed so that maintenance will be kept to a minimum.    

Gerry Marr, Chief Executive of NHS Tayside said:  “As soon as we heard of the community goodwill for this landscape design and saw the remarkable plans for transforming the landscape at Ninewells we knew this was something valuable for our patients that we wanted to back.  We have been delighted to donate £125,000 in funding for this landscape because we want to work with Maggie’s to improve the quality of environment and practical accessibility for visitors to our site.”

Other local supporters include the Mason family.  Douglas Mason, a keen gardener who died of cancer in 2005 left a legacy of £50,000 towards Maggie’s Dundee landscape design. 

His widow Mrs Mason has said: “Douglas felt wonderful outdoor spaces were phenomenally nurturing places for himself and other people with cancer to spend time away from the hospital.  He valued the support he received from Maggie’s Dundee but wanted to do more to ensure others with cancer had the chance to enjoy the outdoor surroundings as much as he had near the end of his life.  Creating outdoor spaces at Maggie’s where visitors could do this was his number one wish in leaving this legacy.”

ENDS

For further information call Marie McQuade, Maggie’s Communications Director on 07985703985