King’s College London: King’s gifted silver-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 garden

A garden commissioned by St Mungo’s Homeless Charity, designed by Cityscapes, and supported by King’s, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Team London Bridge (TLB), won silver in the Show Garden category at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Gifted to King’s from St Mungo’s, the Putting Down Roots garden – made from recycled materials with floral planters, foliage, and seating areas – is currently being repurposed, transforming an unused area at Guy’s into a public green space where staff and students can relax in nature.

The garden will be a community space – open to Guy’s NHS staff and patients, and other workers in the London Bridge area – feeding into King’s Strategic Vision 2029, strengthening the relationship with the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and further supporting the university’s civic work within the local area. It also supports the university’s focus on sustainability, helping to improve biodiversity and access to green space across King’s campuses.

The garden celebrates the St Mungo’s ‘Putting Down Roots’ programme and aims to promote the charity’s vital work. This programme is a collaboration between the charity and the garden’s designers, Cityscapes, and provides support for people who have experienced homelessness, through gardening. Maintaining the garden at King’s will give St Mungo’s residents the opportunity to learn new life skills, helping them to rebuild their confidence.

Relocation of the garden started on 1 June and the temporary installation will be finished this week (w/c 13 June). The garden has been temporarily installed around the memorial garden with a few of the planters being located on the front steps and at the side of New Hunts House, Guy’s Campus. London Bridge City will receive the other part of the garden, installing this on their estate next to The Queen’s Walk.

The Putting Down Roots garden is a fantastic example of how King’s can work with local partners to improve biodiversity and green space. It also strongly links to our sustainability commitments, as well as King’s work with local communities. I look forward to seeing the King’s community and our local community enjoying this space and learning about the work of St Mungo’s.
– Kat Thorne, Director of Sustainability at King’s College London
As our partners, both the Putting Down Roots project and Cityscapes have played a vital role in creating and maintaining green spaces in London Bridge over many years. We are extremely pleased to be able to recycle and reuse their beautiful Chelsea garden, giving it a new life so that their work will continue to be enjoyed in King’s Guy’s Campus and London Bridge City.
– Jack Skillen, Placeshaping Director at Team London Bridge
Being at RHS Chelsea Flower Show was such a great sense of pride for St Mungo’s and our clients. It was always important for our Putting Down Roots Garden to be reused, and with the help of Team London Bridge we’ve found two great locations where it’s lasting benefits will continue to be enjoyed. The new Guy’s Hospital and London Bridge City gardens will allow Cityscapes’ bold design to draw the public in and offer a space for our clients to keep developing the skills that are central to their recovery.
– Matt Woodruff, Horticulture Skills Manager at St Mungo’s