Nursery outside Bognor delivers flowers to NHS Nightingale Hospital in London

A nursery outside Bognor Regis has contributed to the supply of flowers for a newly built hospital in London.
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NHS Nightingale Hospital was built with a garden for the 1,600 NHS staff to enjoy 'when taking a break from their lifesaving work'.

Newey Ltd, based in Newlands, Lagness, along with other wholesale ornamental plant growers, donated a total of more than 2,500 plants.

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These companies have had their usual route to market — via retailers such as garden centres, florists and DIY stores — closed down due to coronavirus. In response Plants2People.com had been set up to try to get all these sale-ready plants to the public as soon as possible.

Alex Newey, director of Plants2People, said every avenue would be exploredto distribute plants and help to make the country a 'brighter, more cheerful placeduring these difficult times'Alex Newey, director of Plants2People, said every avenue would be exploredto distribute plants and help to make the country a 'brighter, more cheerful placeduring these difficult times'
Alex Newey, director of Plants2People, said every avenue would be exploredto distribute plants and help to make the country a 'brighter, more cheerful placeduring these difficult times'

However, the nursery, which has 40 acres of land in Chichester, has welcomed the reopening of some DIY stores, such as B&Q, across the country. Read more hereOn NHS Nightingale, a Newey Ltd, spokesperson said: "The 100m2 garden with 2.4m high living walls of plants have been set up as a place to relax alongside the portacabins which house the doctors and nurses’ clothing and equipment, showers and changing rooms.

"It was conceived and completed in less than three days, and finished by the afternoon of April 9.

"The plants, vertical planters, plant pots, trees, astroturf and outdoor furniture were all donated by UK horticultural and outdoor landscaping companies and designed and project managed by Biotecture managing director, Richard Sabin, with sage advice from RHS Chelsea Award winning designer, Patrick Collins."

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Alex Newey, director of Plants2People.com, said every avenue would be explored to distribute plants and help to make the country a 'brighter, more cheerful place during these difficult times'.

Imogen and Olly Thomas, children of Martyn Thomas who owns the nurseryImogen and Olly Thomas, children of Martyn Thomas who owns the nursery
Imogen and Olly Thomas, children of Martyn Thomas who owns the nursery

"What better way to start than support our front line doctors and nurses?" he said.

“We are on the hunt for further great projects to add tranquillity to communities in need of a little oasis of living plants.”

The plants chosen were a mixture of Geraniums, Fuchsia, Dianthus and Senetti, and were planted in 550 recycled plastic vertical garden stackable PlantBox units, donated by Growing Revolution to help to build the garden.

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Mr Newey continued: “The beauty of fresh plants and flowers is well known to lighten our moods and restore our sense of wellbeing.

Newey Ltd, based in Newlands, Lagness, along withother wholesale ornamental plant growers, donated a total of more than 2,500 plants.Newey Ltd, based in Newlands, Lagness, along withother wholesale ornamental plant growers, donated a total of more than 2,500 plants.
Newey Ltd, based in Newlands, Lagness, along withother wholesale ornamental plant growers, donated a total of more than 2,500 plants.

"We hope that our small gesture goes some way to brightening up the living areas for our NHS staff who are working so hard to save lives, and show how much they are valued.”

Richard Sabin, of biotecture.co.uk, says: “For us this has been one of the most rewarding weeks’ work ever – from a standing start to a beautiful garden in three days.

"The NHS staff all said how grateful they were to us for brightening up their challenging work environment. It is, of course, we who are eternally grateful to them.

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"We were humbled by their reactions and gave our massive thanks in return.”

NHS Nightingale Hospital London is the first temporary hospital to be set up by NHS England.

NHS Nightingale Birmingham is now operational, with Bristol, Harrogate, Washington Tyne and Wear and Manchester soon also to open to Covid-19 patients.

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