Newly Landscaped Roof garden Promotes Speedy recovery at St George’s Hospital

Newly landscaped roof garden promotes speedy recoveries at St George’s Hospital

By Rume Otuguor

A roof garden transformed at St George’s Hospital in Tooting will keep alive the memory of a revered chef.

Laura King noticed the garden during her husband John’s treatment for a brain tumour and set about helping to transform the space after seeing the benefits the garden had on patients’ recovery.

Mrs King established the John King Brain Tumour Foundation after her husband died in 2016. The foundation adopted the garden and, thanks to a team of friends and charitable donations, it is being maintained for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff.

Gary Hunter, vice principal for hospitality and adult learning at Westminster College, where Mr King lectured, said: “He was a remarkable chef and one of life’s true gentlemen. He was everything a professional chef should aspire to be.”

The oasis of greenery is tucked away on the second floor of the Atkinson Morley Wing adjacent to the McKissick Neurosurgery Ward.

It was originally commissioned by brain surgeon Henry Marsh, but was in need of some TLC following his retirement in 2015.

RHS Gold medal winning garden designer Tony Woods and Landscape company Garden Club London Ltd teamed up to bring the garden to life.

Generous sponsorship included shaded pergolas by Forest Garden Products and an artificial lawn from Namgrass.