Award-winning garden celebrating people with Down's syndrome moves to Scotland

An award-winning garden celebrating people with Down’s syndrome has permanently moved to Scotland.

Designed to reflect on the unique qualities that people with the syndrome bring to society, the garden won both the Silver and People’s Choice awards at the Chelsea Flower Show last year.

Designed for Scottish charity Down’s Syndrome Scotland, on Saturday, it welcomed its first visitors at its permanent home at Palacerigg Country Park in North Lanarkshire.

Consisting of around 2,500 plants, the garden has a number of specimen trees, including a large Scots Pine, as well as water pools, bespoke benches, artisan ceramic tiles and a building called The Hug, reflecting the natural “compassion and kindness” of people with Down’s syndrome.

Down’s Syndrome Scotland collaborated with Watch Us Grow for the project, an organisation that supports young people with additional support needs by creating opportunities to learn new skills, such as gardening.

The charity says that being able to showcase their community story at the Chelsea Flower Show was a monumental moment, but back home in Scotland, the garden’s legacy can truly begin, where everyone is welcome to enjoy it.

The Hug was inspired by the 'compassion and kindness' of people with Down's syndrome — The Hug was inspired by the ‘compassion and kindness’ of people with Down’s syndrome STV News

Ashley Taylor, from Down’s Syndrome Scotland, said the charity was delighted the garden has a permanent home in North Lanarkshire.

“It means everything to our community at Down’s Syndrome Scotland, it is such an amazing opportunity for us to actually have a garden in the first place.

“It allows us to create a lasting legacy so we’ll use this space for our members to come together with Watch Us Grow students and work together to create really special moments and special memories.”