Therapeutic Garden Design
Garden Design at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
Location: Barnet, North London
A series of therapeutic gardens designed in collaboration with Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, creating welcoming outdoor spaces that offer comfort, sensory engagement and moments of calm for seriously unwell children, their families and staff.
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Overview
This project has been a deeply meaningful collaboration with Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. From the early stages, we were invited to help shape garden spaces that would support children with serious and life-limiting conditions, alongside their families, carers and the hospice team.
The aim was to create outdoor environments that feel safe, uplifting and inclusive — places where nature can offer comfort, sensory enrichment and connection at a time when these experiences are especially valuable.
- Accessible sensory garden and contemplation spaces.
- Year-round planting chosen for scent, texture and colour.
- Wide, level paths for wheelchairs and medical equipment.
- Quiet seating niches for families, staff and carers.
The brief
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice needed gardens that would work at many different emotional and practical levels — from playful exploration and sensory engagement to quiet reflection and private moments of calm. The spaces had to be fully accessible, welcoming and easy to navigate, with planting that would feel gentle and supportive rather than overwhelming.
The gardens also needed to sit comfortably around a purpose-built hospice building, linking entrances, circulation routes and outdoor rooms in a way that feels natural and intuitive for families and staff.
Design approach & sensory experience
Working closely with hospice leadership and staff, we developed a sequence of gardens that frame the building and its grounds. The entrance and surrounding spaces are planted for year-round interest — spring blossom, summer texture and colour, and warm autumn tones — all supported by carefully considered lighting for evening comfort and safety.
Our work includes the design of contemplation gardens and a fully accessible sensory garden. Wide, level pathways accommodate wheelchairs and medical equipment, while shade trees provide shelter and a sense of protection. Planting layers and textural features are chosen for scent, sound and touch, allowing visitors to experience the garden with multiple senses.
Accessibility, comfort & connection
Integrated seating niches create quiet, semi-private places where families, staff and carers can pause, talk or simply sit together. Planting is arranged to frame these moments of rest, offering softness and enclosure without feeling closed in.
Interactive planting and landscape elements support play, therapy and learning within a secure, nurturing environment. Throughout, visibility and wayfinding are considered carefully, so the spaces feel easy to understand and comforting to move through.
Collaboration & delivery
Beyond the design itself, we assisted with cost-effective plant sourcing, contract documentation and coordination with donors, sponsors and contractors. Close collaboration with the hospice team and wider design consultants helped ensure the gardens were delivered sensitively, efficiently and to a high standard.
This ongoing partnership reflects our commitment to creating landscapes where nature plays a genuinely healing and uplifting role — spaces that are beautiful, but above all, meaningful to the people who use them.
Sensory walk & ongoing use
The sensory walk has become an important feature of the grounds, offering children, families and staff a calm, engaging route through planting designed for touch, scent and gentle sound. Subtle level changes, surface textures and planting combinations create interest without compromising accessibility.
As the gardens mature, they continue to provide moments of connection with nature — from seasonal blossom and foliage to birds, pollinators and shifting light. The spaces are used for quiet reflection, informal conversation, play, therapy and simple time outdoors, supporting wellbeing in many small but powerful ways.
Gallery
Spaces within the hospice gardens
A selection of views showing the sensory walk, contemplation spaces, entrance planting and accessible routes at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.
Client feedback
“Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice cares for children who are seriously unwell and their families across central and North London – providing care in the community and from The Ark, a purpose built hospice building in Barnet.
Pebble landscaping have been involved in various projects around the site since the late stages of the build in 2019. Recently they designed and planted the Sensory Walk for the use of children, families and staff at the Ark. Ben and Grace were instrumental in the delivery of this important external feature. Their hard work, knowledge and commitment helped to make this a very successful project. They continue to be involved on a regular basis with the maintenance and development of the grounds and we are very happy with their work and support.”
Simon Neal
Pro-Bono Consultant, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
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