Chelsea Flower Show project to highlight contaminated blood scandal

Written by Jessica Bomford, September 5, 2024

Amanda Patton, a landscape designer whose brother died after being treated with contaminated blood products, is fundraising to bring a stunning garden commemorating the scandal to Chelsea Flower Show.

Amanda has created a breath taking garden which uses innovative planting, sculpture and water features to capture the full range of emotions experienced by those at the heart of the scandal. She plans for the garden to be relocated after the show to form a permanent memorial, potentially in the grounds of St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate where the Annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for those who died is held.

To make the garden a reality Amanda needs to raise £350,000 by 30 September, but is hoping that a lot of small contributions from our community will help her reach her goal. Her brother Simon’s widow has already donated £100,000 towards the project. Although named after Simon, the garden is for everyone with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders who were caught up in the disaster, and their families.

Simon, who is pictured with Amanda, was a well-known local radio presenter in Surrey and Hampshire in the 80s and early 90s. He had severe haemophilia A and died nearly 30 years ago as a result of contaminated treatment, aged 38. Amanda has used the emotions she and her family have been through to inspire her garden, which she hopes will raise awareness about the scandal to a new audience. Chelsea Flower Show has 140,000 visitors a year, including royalty and celebrities, and the BBC’s daily coverage alone attracts an average of 22.2 million viewers.

Find out more about Amanda’s garden project and how to donate here.