Mark et Emma ont fait l'ouverture du jardin d'enfant St-Georges - 27/04/2012

We were delighted to welcome Mark and Emma Owen to St George’s this afternoon, to open our children’s garden.

The garden was looking resplendent after a week’s worth of April showers and at times torrential rain. But the rain held off… just!

A garden especially for younger patients has been a dream for years and now it’s a reality. It incorporates ideas and features suggested by the children, including a vegetable patch and an animal enclosure. The two pygmy rabbits arrived on Monday and have been called – rather aptly – Howard and Jason.

We were joined by Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, and his family, as well as children (and their families) who have been treated at St George’s.

We moved indoors for afternoon tea and children’s activities, including willow weaving, and clowning around with Smartie Artie.

Mark said “It’s truly magical”.

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Mark Owen opens our NHS Garden & Take That donate £20K

After working on the new children’s garden at St George’s Hospital for almost a year Adam and Andrée were delighted that Mark Owen and his lovely wife Emma found time to join them for the grand opening of their St George’s Children's Garden.

Mark said “Wow, this is magical. What a great place for the children to come and enjoy at St George's Hospital. Well done to Adam, Andrée, the team at St George’s and course all the children. Thank you for inviting me along to be part of this special day”

The garden was looking resplendent after a week’s worth of April showers and thankfully the rain held off and sun chose to shine for the opening. As the Owens arrived children, parents and staff gave them a warm welcome. Adam gave Mark and Emma a tour of the garden and introduced them to the garden’s new resident rabbits, Howard and Jason.

Mark said “I spoke to Howard and Jay earlier in the week and told them the garden has two rabbits named after them, they both thought it was hilarious.” He added, all the lads think this is a great project and that’s why on behalf of the Take That Trust I’d like to present the hospital with this cheque for £20,000” after a round of applause he continued “that should buy plenty of carrots for the rabbits”

Davies White Landscape Architects have donated the rabbits to the garden and also arranged for celebrity TV vet Zara Bowland to join the children in the summer to give a talk on looking after rabbits a pet.

The garden incorporates ideas and features suggested by the children, including a vegetable patch, animal enclosure, swings, water pump, stepping stones, hammock, basket ball hoop and willow wigwam and tunnel. There is even a wooden carved friendly dragon called Owen.

The garden was officially opened when Mark cut the ribbon to release huge bunch of balloons into the sky and then cut a massive cake made to look like the garden. Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting joined in with the celebrations thanking the team at St George’s Hospital, the children, Davies White and of course the Owens for giving up their time. Other activities that took place included willow weaving with Sharon Potter and magic and fun with local children’s performer Smarty Arty.

Adam said “It’s been a pleasure to work on this project and see so many happy children. It’s great they all now have a green oasis they can call their own and place to escape to when staying or visiting the hospital”

On Mark and Emma, Adam added, “so many people have asked me what Mark and Emma are like? They are quite simply lovely, very genuine, warm and friendly. They are both excited about becoming parents again and Mark is looking forwards to a busy few weeks with the Ivor Nevello awards on May the 17th and then Soccer Aid on the May the 27th”

On whether England will beat the Rest of the World at Soccer Aid Mark said, “I hope so, both teams have got some amazing players’” on whether he thought he’d score the winner Mark smiled nervously and said “hmm that would be great” and on how the training is going he finished, “Captain Robbie has asked us all to pick it up, so it’s going to be a busy few weeks, I look forward to seeing you there”

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