Cross our pools with silver
The Macmillan Cancer Support garden
Sandringham flower show 2010

My Sandringham flower show garden this year is in aid of Macmillan, the idea of the garden is to outline some of the ways in which Macmillan helps hundreds of people and their families as they face an extremely confusing and emotional time in their lives.
We are also aiming to raise money throughout the day so why not pop along and throw in a few silver coins (5p, 10p, 20p or 50p) to cover the bottom of the two pools within the garden.

I have placed a link on my website for any wonderful people who cannot attend but would still like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Below I have listed the ways in which the garden focus’s on the help available through the hard working charity.

1. Practical Support
   We guide people through the system, supporting them every step of the way.
   Designed around a maze the garden reflects Macmillan through subtle signs throughout, pointing the way keeping the visitor on the correct path during an otherwise confusing time.
2. Emotional Support
   People need emotional support, so we listen, advise and share information
   When the visitor arrives at the centre of the garden they find a harmonious center, a circle representing the warmth and support of not only Macmillan but friends and family that are there for the cancer patient and the carers. Two chairs one for the listener and one for the seeker are placed facing each other.
3. Financial Support
   We fund nurses and other specialist health care professionals and build cancer care centres
   
   People need financial help to cope with the extra costs cancer can bring, so we give benefits advice, and grants for anything from heating bills to travel costs
   At the heart of the garden are two pools representing funds available to health care professionals and those affected by cancer. During the course of the day the aim is to cover the base of the pools with donations of silver coins (cross our pools with silver).
4. Carers Support
   The planting within the garden is meditative, relaxing and soft promoting a stress free environment to provide a break for both carers and patients.
5. Medical Support
   Some of the plants in the garden have health benefits and are effective in pain and stress relief.