MEET Darren, our garden designer

When the Lady Garden Foundation first approached me two years ago, they shared their bold ambition - to be the first women’s gynaecological charity to have a garden at RHS Chelsea – that would help them achieve their charity mission, which is to break the silence and stigma surrounding gynaecological cancers.

As a husband, father to two girls, a son and friend to wonderful women in my life, I felt compelled to help the charity raise awareness among both men and women, break taboos, and shatter the silence that too often surrounds these cancers through a bold and striking garden design.

Over the past two years, I’ve immersed myself in the charity’s world - engaging with their awareness campaigns, spending time at The Royal Marsden Hospital, and listening to the stories of patients whose lives have been affected. I’ve also had the privilege of learning from the consultants and staff who dedicate themselves to caring for these women. 

Through this project, I hope to be a role model for men across the UK - to encourage awareness, empathy, and dialogue around women’s gynaecological health, and to contribute to a future where these cancers are no longer silenced.

One of the key messages of the garden was to make clear that there are 5 different Gynaecological cancers, as that is widely unknown.  My striking, immersive design features forms and planting that subtly echo the female body to invite curiosity and encourage open conversation about the five gynaecological cancers. If we can enable these cancers to be talked about openly, this will lead to early diagnoses that will ultimately save lives.

Long-term, I hope my garden will help younger people to break the ‘taboo’ about gynaecological health so they can speak openly, in the same way other cancers are, by sharing personal insights into their health – by doing this we can hope to reduce gynaecological cancers in women in future generations through creating a cultural shift so that each of the 5 gynaecological cancers have more awareness and open discussions.

Ultimately, the success of this charity garden will be measured by fewer women dying every day because prevention and early diagnosis of these cancers are the norm.

Visit Darren Hawkes Landscape and Garden Design - https://darrenhawkes.com