Latest news with #Down'sSyndromeScotland
Daily Record
27-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Inspirational North Lanarkshire garden takes shape at new home
The Down's Syndrome Scotland garden will be located at the Watch US Grow charity within Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld. Work has started to give an award-winning garden from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show a permanent home in North Lanarkshire. The Down's Syndrome Scotland garden will be located at the Watch US Grow charity within Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld. This has been funded by Project Giving Back, a unique grant-making charity that supports cause-driven gardens at RHS Chelsea, ensuring their legacy continues by relocating them to community sites across the UK. Watch US Grow supports young adults with Additional Support Needs with gardening and life skills, and they will be involved in recreating and then maintaining the garden, which will be open to the public from next year. Designed by Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design, the garden takes visitors on a journey through the life of someone with Down's syndrome. It highlights their many unique qualities while also challenging visitors to appreciate and understand the barriers that people with Down's syndrome still face as they strive to live their best lives. It was inspired by Duncan's eight-year-old nephew, Liam, who has Down's syndrome and is supported by Down's Syndrome Scotland. The garden was awarded a Silver Gilt medal for small show garden and the People's Choice for Best Small Show Garden. North Lanarkshire Council Leader Jim Logue and Convener of the council's Environment and Climate Change Committee Councillor Helen Loughran visited the garden site to meet the team involved. 'The garden is truly inspirational, creating a picture of the qualities of people with Down's syndrome as well as the challenges and barriers they face on a daily basis,' Councillor Logue said. 'The young people from Watch US Grow will benefit hugely from being involved in planting and looking after the garden and we're proud to have the garden here at Palacerigg Country Park for visitors to enjoy for years to come. 'We also hope it raises awareness of and sparks discussion about the issues faced by people with disabilities in our communities.' The double award-winning garden will officially open in May 2026 when it will be in full bloom, recreating the stunning garden that was seen by the thousands of visitors to RHS Chelsea last month. 'For a charity like Watch Us Grow, who use gardening to educate and improve people's lives, there is no greater opportunity than this,' said Tom Harten, General Manager at Watch US Grow. 'The Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden will now become an integral part of Watch Us Grow and the work we do. It will be maintained by adults with Additional Support Needs, which will include Down's Syndrome but also Autism and a range of other learning disabilities. 'This is so great for so many including the two charities, Watch Us Grow and Down's Syndrome Scotland, and the garden designers but also for North Lanarkshire, Palacerigg Country Park, the local community and garden lovers all over Scotland who may like to visit. I would like to thank Down's Syndrome Scotland for recognising the work we do and choosing to partner with us to look after this amazing garden.' Eddie McConnell, who is the Chief Executive of Down's Syndrome Scotland and who lives locally in Cumbernauld, joined the Leader and the Convener in their recent visit to the garden at Watch US Grow. He said: 'We are thrilled to bring our Chelsea Garden to Palacerigg Country Park and to partner with Watch US Grow and North Lanarkshire Council who have been so supportive of our efforts to create this unique public space for everyone to enjoy.'
The National
20-05-2025
- General
- The National
Scottish garden designers win prestigious award at Chelsea show
Nick Burton and Duncan Hall, known professionally as Burton Hall Garden Design, were awarded their first Silver Gilt medal for their Down's Syndrome Scotland garden at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show. The garden, which is set to be permanently relocated to Palacerigg Country Park in North Lanarkshire following the show, was inspired by co-designer Hall's nephew, Liam, and aims to highlight the unique qualities of and challenges faced by those with Down's syndrome. READ MORE: Last chance to see 'vibrant' bluebells at this 'stunning' Scottish woodland The pair said of their win: 'We are over the moon to win our first Silver Gilt medal at RHS Chelsea for our 'Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden', which has all been made possible by the generous funding provided by Project Giving Back. 'We hope visitors are drawn in by the garden's lush, woodland planting, but also take a moment to look a little closer and see the deeper meaning and themes woven into its design. 'We hope our garden will allow people to reflect on the daily challenges faced by people with Down's syndrome, so they can reconsider misconceptions about their abilities, and appreciate the many joyful, positive qualities they bring on a greater level to society.' References to Down's syndrome can be found throughout the garden, including a 'hug' structure decorated internally with cushions co-designed by the Down's Syndrome Scotland community and benches featuring 21 slats and three sets of legs to represent the chromosomal cause of the condition. READ MORE: Wildfire in Scottish Highlands beauty spot rages on after 'extreme' warning One bench features a plaque engraved with a Gaelic proverb, which translates to 'hard as the heather, lasting as the pine', and was chosen by the designers as a representation of the 'hope of fulfilled potential' for people in the Down's syndrome community. A number of other Scottish designers assisted with the project, such as Edinburgh-based cabinet makers Laurence McIntosh and ceramic artist Frances Priest.
Glasgow Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Famous Glasgow musicians give young choir a boost with special song
Ken McCluskey and Douglas MacIntyre of The Bluebells helped Down's Syndrome Scotland's Choir 21 write and perform a song especially for the occasion. And Altered Images singer and actor Clare Grogan also joined in, delighting choir members and onlookers alike. On her Instagram page, the star said she was excited to be singing alongside the choir and added: "Their garden is sublime." Choir 21 (Image: Ginger Horticulture) The choir was at the prestigious event to unveil their charity show garden, the Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden, sponsored by Project Giving Back. The garden will be at the flower show until Saturday, May 24, when it will relocate to its permanent home at Watch Us Grow in Palacerigg Country Park in Cumbernauld. The talented singers performed three songs, including their debut performance of Our Chelsea Anthem, written in collaboration with The Bluebells and accompanied by Makaton sign language. READ NEXT: Why a piece of Glasgow musical history can be found 300 miles away Glasgow museum's organist celebrates 55 years of playing 'Car crash TV': Glasgow designer on her painful exit from hit BBC show Down's Syndrome Scotland chief executive Eddie McConnell said: 'It's wonderful to see our charity choir here in the heart of Chelsea to perform at the world's most prestigious flower show. 'Many of our members haven't travelled to London before, and although excited and nervous at the invitation to officially open our garden at RHS Chelsea, they have excelled and made their community proud as they fly the flag for inclusion, opportunity and challenging stigma.' Katy Lironi, Choir 21's songwriter and choir lead, said: 'I am so proud of the choir performing today in front of so many press and RHS guests to officially unveil our charity show garden. 'Our Chelsea Anthem is a song written by members of our choir with input from our wider charity members. 'We're also grateful for the help provided by The Bluebells, who brought our lyrics to life.' The Bluebells (Image: Newsquest) Choir 21 also sang Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden, its 'very own take on the folk song English Country Garden', adds Katy. 'Lyrics were supplied by Choir 21 members and the wider Down's Syndrome Scotland community, describing many features of the garden,' she explains. 'And of course - we couldn't come to Chelsea with The Bluebells without singing their 1993 number one hit, Young at Heart.' (Image: Ginger Horticulture) The Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden is an immersive, semi-wooded space celebrating and reflecting the unique qualities that people with Down's syndrome bring to society. Visitors enter on a meandering path that leads them through two distinct planting areas that convey calmness and playfulness, while a pool symbolises the daily challenges faced by people with Down's syndrome who - despite huge progress in recent years - still experience stigma, often resulting in reduced opportunities and life expectancy. A submerged bridge within the water pool allows what looks like barrier to be overcome and visitors arrive at a welcoming garden building designed to 'feel like a warm and comforting hug', say designers Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design, who were inspired by Duncan's eight-year-old nephew Liam. Liam, who has Down's syndrome, was invited to the unveiling along with his brother Oscar, 10, and his parents Laura Romay Castiñeira and Davie Hall.
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Charity's show garden will be relocated to Cumbernauld park following appearance at Chelsea Flower Show
After the event, which takes place on May 20-24, the display by Down's Syndrome Scotland will be moved to Palacerigg Country Park with the assistance of local charity Watch Us Grow, which works with adults who have additional support needs. A charity's show garden will be relocated to a park in Cumbernauld following its appearance at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. After the event, which takes place on May 20-24, the display by Down's Syndrome Scotland will be moved to Palacerigg Country Park with the assistance of local charity Watch Us Grow, which works with adults who have additional support needs. The new site for the show garden will be adjacent to the existing Watch Us Grow house and garden and was previously used for goat grazing. Designed by Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design. the garden takes visitors on a journey through the life of someone with Down's syndrome and highlights their many unique qualities and barriers they face. Features of the garden will include a building created by Old School Fabrications in East Lothian. This was commissioned to feel comforting and reflect the compassion, kindness and joy that come naturally to many people with Down's syndrome. A ground-level water pools with submerged bridge will represent the difficulties often faced by people with Down's syndrome, expressing their resilience and determination. Durability will be symobolised by a Scots pine on the other side of the pool. The cause of Down's Syndrome is a third copy of chromosome 21. The design of the garden representes these numbers, with three water features and three seating areas, while bespoke benches by traditional craftsman Laurence McIntosh have three feet and 21 slats. Ceramic artist Frances Priest has provided 21 tiles and the garden will also feature a bunting display of 21 'odd, knitted socks', which resemble chromosomes, will be hung inside the garden building. North Lanarkshire Council will support the relocation project. The restorative justice team has begun preparing the site, and it will also work with the two charities to support its long-term maintenance and training of volunteers. The council will also use its communications resources to increase public awareness of the relocated garden and its launch event, in order to attract visitors. The show garden will also benefit from various recent improvements to the park itself, such as improved pathways, additional play areas and updated signage.
