By Hannah Thompson, Associate Director at re-form

As we approach the opening of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, the wellbeing gardens that surround the building are beginning to take shape.

At re-form, we’ve always seen landscape architecture as more than plants and pathways. From the very beginning, we listened closely to the voices of the clinical team and MND patients, shaping a design that’s not only beautiful, but purposeful.

 

 A garden for everyone

Our vision has always been to create an inclusive, multipurpose garden that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons, welcoming everyone - patients, their families, carers, and staff.

The gardens will offer sociable places where children can play while adults share a conversation nearby, as well as quiet spaces where people can take a moment for personal reflection.  

A circular walkway gently invites movement and supports physiotherapy, while sensory planting brings colour, texture and variety throughout the year.

Seating is positioned thoughtfully, some in open air, others sheltered, with varying heights to ensure comfort and ease. The pathways are smooth and accessible, allowing people of all abilities to explore freely, embracing every individual, wherever they are on their journey.

 

Symbols of hope

Last September, patients, staff, and the Burrow family, including Rob’s parents, wife Lindsey, and three children imprinted their handprints in concrete slabs, and we’re looking at ways these handprints can be incorporated into the garden.

Also featured will be a ‘Tree of Hope’ sapling, grown from the seed of the Sycamore Gap tree, which is being donated by the National Trust. This sapling carries a message of hope with it as it starts a new chapter in the garden.

 

Collaboration in full bloom

We are so grateful to our partners and collaborators, whose time, tools, and materials are helping us bring this vision to life. It’s a true community effort, grounded in kindness and a shared purpose.

Over the coming weeks, the garden will spring into life, with over 5,000 plants going into the soil. This garden is much more than an extension of the building, it’s a space where community, care, and resilience will flourish.