C.A.R. Gardens

14/06/2026

A good news story of collaboration between the Islands Mountbatten Hospice, the Ventnor Friends of Wight Horticulture, C.A.R. Gardens and a team of volunteers.

Photos to show how this project developed.

Revitalising a garden with a strong legacy, rooting generations of horticulture.

For the benefit of all, especially those in need of solace and peace in the moment.

Enriching habitats for biodiversity restoration and connecting green spaces for the future.

Connecting people with each other, nature and the environment.

As we continue on our journeys, comforted by memories under the Oak tree.

Ventnor Friends of Wight Horticulture Mountbatten Isle of Wight C.A.R. Gardens Isle of Wight County Press Isle of Wight News from On The Wight

13/06/2026

Earlier this year we were asked to enrich the Hospice Oak Tree Garden with a planting plan, blitz and installation at the Isle of Wight Hospice. We'll continue in the autumn with plenty of bulbs to plant.

Public gardens and green spaces like this one so often have capital spent to get them going, but sadly ongoing care, development and maintenance is not always budgeted for. We are all indebted to volunteers and charities that keep the green light on. Big shout out and thanks to you all.

The system needs to change, the environmental awakening needs to become the norm, the value of green spaces needs to be realised, but until then appreciation and thanks to everyone who makes a difference without asking for a return.

Gardens, parks, trees and nature are so important to everyone's wellbeing, health and healing. But we don't all have equal access to them. We should all be able to look, to walk, to sit, or just to be in a natural space. Places to be quiet, listen and help still busy minds. Habitats for wildlife, biodiversity to recover and for humans to connect to environments that nourish them. Outside of buildings, screens and noise. Even if just for a moment.

And with this hospice garden, all in the comforting shadows of a mighty Oak Tree.

It has been an honour to work in such an important space with Mountbatten Isle of Wight and charity Ventnor Friends of Wight Horticulture. Thank you for trusting us to deliver and for making this garden a sustainable project with ongoing maintenance commitments.

Thank you for opening your gardens to everyone, giving more people access to the health benefits of nature. Well done you.

Mountbatten's Oak Garden has been lovingly restored through fundraising, personal memory and horticultural expertise

01/06/2026

Sometimes you just have to reach for the sky 🚀

That's exactly what these plants are doing, reaching up and up, maximising available light and space and attracting as many pollinators as they can during their short flowering period.

30/05/2026

Have you noticed how well Roses are doing this year?

We might be sweltering 🥵 but they are loving the hot ☀️ start to the summer.

Photos from one of the gardens in our care.

04/05/2026

A return visit to see how this garden has settled in over the last couple of years of design work and planting.

04/05/2026

A return visit to this lovely garden to the south of the Island.

A garden we planned and worked on over the last couple of years.

Already so colourful, so beautiful. With wide open views and skys.

Thank you to the owners for inviting us back to enjoy. You're smashing the maintenance! 👏 Looks amazing 😍.

02/05/2026

On Sunday, 10 May, some of the C.A.R. Gardens team will be taking on various routes of Walk the Wight to support patients and families cared for by Mountbatten hospice.

We are walking in memory of Tracey who passed away at the hospice last year. Tracey, Rob and their family and friends were looked after by the hospice team as if they were all part of the same loving, caring and supportive family. We cannot thank them enough for all they do.

Over the years we have worked with and helped the hospice with their gardens. The photo is the Oak Tree Garden, a communal green space surrounded by patients rooms. Tracey's room looked out and opened onto this lovely garden. It offers a quiet and reflective natural environment to aid healing of body and mind. Supported by charity Ventnor Friends of Wight Horticulture we have been busy revitalising the garden.

Did you know? Every single day, it costs over £25,000 to keep Mountbatten's vital services running. Only a third of this comes from the NHS - the rest relies on people like us.

If you can give please do, small or large- it all adds up. You can click on the link to donate to our fund raising page. Thank you for supporting the C.A.R. Gardens team and Mountbatten Isle of Wight

On Sunday, 10 May, some of the C.A.R. Gardens team will be taking on various routes of Walk the Wight to support patients and families cared for by Mountbatten - the Island's only hospice. We are walk

25/04/2026

Here's a selection of photos from the team taken over the last couple of weeks whilst we've been busy looking after and developing numerous gardens across the Island.

From top to bottom:
Bringing planting plans into fruition
Lunchtime in the shade of the trees
Pressure washing
Dividing and transplanting
Mulching borders with organic matter
Setting out and planting
Scarifing, top dressing and feeding lawns
Setting up irrigation systems
And a few of the 80 beautiful Isle of Wight gardens we help maintain.

18/04/2026

Oak Tree Garden

It's always a privilege to work at the Hospice. The hospice means so much to so many and many of us on the Isle of Wight will have felt their caring embrace.

The Oak tree garden is an area looked on by patients rooms with windows and doors that open onto it. A healing and therapeutic space.

We have been employed by and funded by Ventnor Friends of Wight Horticulture to give this garden a lift. A wonderful charity with love at it's core Ventnor Friends of Wight Horticulture.

Rob created a planting plan that revitalises the garden, editing out some of the older dominating plants, and replacing with new, bringing fresh structure, foliage, flowers, scent and textures. Whilst sensitively complementing the existing garden that was once worked on by Simon Goodenough. Rob has chosen plants that will thrive in the environment. Right plant right place.

The plan has enriched the garden and brought it forward to be enjoyed to its fullest once again.

This week our team came in and planted the plan into reality, and finished with an organic mulch. We'll return in the autumn with armfuls of bulbs to plant.

Big shout out to all the volunteers who work at the hospice, and in this case especially the gardeners who look after the gardens.