The Spirit of Christmas is alive as landscape supplier Green-tech joins other businesses in the landscape industry to answer the call from the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity to design and build a surprise garden for the Taylor Johnson family, whose 5-year-old son Joshua has severe complex physical and neurological disabilities.
Leading this amazing ‘DIY-SOS style project is Sussex-based landscaping firm Conquest Spaces who set out to do something for the local community this year and asked the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity to refer a family in need of a new garden.
Joshua Taylor Johnson from Haywards Heath is blind and unable to move without constant support, but he loves the sensory experience that comes from being outside. Unfortunately, the family’s garden consists of a steep, uneven slope, making it impossible for them to take Joshua out in his walking frame. The family have attempted to build ramps and a patio; however, they were forced to abandon works due to high costs. As a result, Joshua spends most of his time inside.
A garden room forms part of the new garden design and Green-tech has donated 80 sedum matting cassettes which will convert the roof into a lush sedum green roof. Sedum is the ideal choice as it needs minimal maintenance, is drought tolerant and requires a minimal substrate layer. It is a well-rooted, low-growing plant therefore it is ideal for the harsh, open environments typically associated with green roofs.
“Not having a suitable garden for Joshua makes us feel incredibly guilty as parents. Not being able to provide him with a basic space he can enjoy and learn in is always made worse when he hears the neighbour’s children playing outside. Landscaping our garden would be a complete game-changer for Josh, allowing him to meet key milestones such as walking which he loves to do when we can hold him. We’d love to be able to encourage him to crawl and walk freely with his equipment and get the most out of being in a safe space. He loves all sensory aspects of the local wildlife trust gardens, especially everything he hears such as the trickling of water or the wind in the trees.” – Louise Taylor Johnson (Joshua’s Mother).
‘We could immediately see how the sloped landscape made their outdoor space completely inaccessible. Every child should be able to go outside into the fresh air and feel connected to nature, and we are so excited to create a beautiful, safe garden for Joshua and his family to enjoy. It’s truly amazing to see so many businesses contributing materials to help us bring the design to reality; everything from paving stones and plants to timber and resin pathways. We wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without their donations’. – Ross Conquest, MD of Conquest Creative Spaces who is leading this project.
Commenting on their donation, Green-tech’s Sales Director Richard Gill adds,
“This is such an amazing project and I’m delighted that Ross asked us to help in the Garden SOS for the Dame Vera Lynn charity. Joshua sounds like a lovely little boy and I am genuinely thrilled that we can help him and his family. Outdoor green spaces offer huge benefits and it is just fantastic to see all of the companies come together for such a worthwhile cause. Well done to all involved. A lovely way to round off a difficult year.”
In true DIY-SOS style the team only have five days to complete the construction, which began on Monday 14th of December. The finished garden will be revealed to the family on Friday 18th of December.