In the quiet hush of a woodland glade, where the air feels crisp and unburdened, a simple breath can transform from routine to revelation. This scenario underscores the intent behind the Asthma + Lung UK Breathing Space Garden, set to debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, where designed landscapes aim to foster restorative environments for those grappling with respiratory challenges.
Designing Serenity: The Garden’s Core Elements and Plant Selection
The Breathing Space Garden, crafted by landscape designer Angus Thompson, draws on woodland aesthetics to create a supportive haven informed by individuals living with lung conditions. Its layout emphasizes resilience and recovery, incorporating elements that promote calm and connection to nature. Central to the design is the Breathing Space Platform, a sheltered space intended for activities like yoga or tai chi, surrounded by a palette of soothing greens and whites to evoke tranquility.
Low-Allergen Planting and Material Choices
Plant selections prioritize low-pollen varieties to minimize triggers for respiratory sensitivities, blending aesthetic appeal with health considerations. Key species include:
- Scleranthus uniflorus, offering subtle texture without high allergen output.
- Iris ensata, providing elegant form in damp conditions.
- Boehmeria platyphylla, contributing soft foliage for visual depth.
- Spiraea betulifolia, adding layered interest with minimal pollen release.
- Hakonechloa macra, a graceful grass for ground-level serenity.
- Sorbaria aitchisonii, introducing fine structure amid the greens.
Personal and Professional Inspirations Behind the Design
Thompson’s involvement stems from deep personal ties to lung health advocacy. His wife, Kate Binnie, leads breathing-therapy sessions for Asthma + Lung UK and aids those in palliative care, while their daughter manages asthma, and Binnie’s mother faced severe breathlessness. Even the garden’s contractor, Dan Flynn of Gardenlink, recently lost his mother to a lung condition, infusing the project with shared empathy.
As a Oxford-based designer and Inchbald School of Garden Design graduate, Thompson brings a track record of naturalistic yet structured work, including a Gold medal win at RHS Chelsea in 2009 for the ‘Nature Ascending’ garden. His style—balancing plant communities with precise detailing—lends itself to this therapeutic focus. “We want this garden to raise awareness of the invisible impact of breathlessness. One in five people in the UK will develop a lung condition in their lifetime,” Thompson noted. “I hope visitors to RHS Chelsea will view our garden and pause, notice their breathing, and experience a moment of calm and clarity.”
Broader Implications for Public Health and Urban Greening
Supported by Project Giving Back, the garden addresses a critical statistic: one in five UK residents face lifetime risks of lung conditions, exacerbated by pollution in deprived areas. Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive of Asthma + Lung UK, emphasized its potential reach: “For people living with lung conditions, every breath can feel uncertain. We hope the Asthma + Lung UK – Breathing Space Garden inspires reflection on how vital it is to breathe freely. We would love the Garden to motivate visitors to encourage and support projects that green-up our polluted cities and help promote clean air for all, helping us to close the lung health gap across the UK.”
Post-event, the garden will relocate permanently to the Breathing Space lung-rehabilitation center in Rotherham, a region with elevated lung-related hospital admissions. There, it will serve as a therapeutic resource for patients, staff, and caregivers, demonstrating how green spaces can yield measurable mental and physical benefits—studies consistently link nature access to reduced stress and improved recovery rates. Sleet added, “We are Interested to work with Angus and Project Giving Back on this inspiring garden. Access to green space is proven to support both mental and physical wellbeing, yet not everyone has that privilege.
Too many communities, especially those in more deprived areas, face barriers to healthy lungs and green open spaces.” This initiative underscores a trend in horticultural design toward health-integrated landscapes, potentially influencing urban planning to prioritize low-allergen, pollution-filtering greenery. What could this mean for the future of public gardens, as rising respiratory issues demand more such interventions amid climate pressures?
