The Macmillan Legacy of a Lifetime Garden

At a glance

Who would use this garden?
A calm, multi-generational garden, with a particular focus on people who have been impacted by cancer and have experienced using Macmillan’s services.
Where is the garden set?
In the North of England.

The Garden

The Macmillan Legacy of a Lifetime Garden is a space for contemplation, connection and quiet appreciation. It invites visitors to consider the impact of a lifetime and how each generation can support the next. This symbolic garden highlights how leaving a gift in a will for Macmillan can be a lasting legacy, helping those living with cancer in the future.
 
Inspired by the tranquil beauty, healing qualities and lifecycles of nature, the garden features elegant trees with finely cut leaves, casting soft, dappled light through a delicate canopy. Beneath them, lush shade-loving perennials, ferns and grasses form a serene, green and white palette, echoing Macmillan’s brand colours.
 
At the centre of the garden, a still water pool is approached by three chequerboard paths. These symbolise our shared journey through life and the challenges of navigating a cancer diagnosis. Visitors are invited to release seed-infused ‘fallen leaves’, mirroring how a gift can nurture future generations. 
 
Opposite, the ‘Pillars of Strength’ sculptural centre piece, stands as a quiet monument to resilience, support and enduring impact. Its reflective surfaces mirror the water and surrounding landscape, while its laser-cut illustration reinforces the role of Macmillan and the far-reaching effects of legacy giving.

Plants

The planting scheme centres around a calm and cohesive palette of green and white, reflecting Macmillan’s brand colours. This restrained, elegant combination is designed to create a poetic and contemplative atmosphere, encouraging tranquillity and reflection for visitors to the garden.

Statement and standout plants featured in the design include Astrantia major (greater masterwort), Athyrium otophorum var. okanum (Japanese painted fern), Aralia elata (Japanese angelica tree), Stewartia pseudocamellia (deciduous camellia) and Acer campestre (field maple).

Garden legacy

The garden will be re-located to the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters, just 10 miles from Wentworth Woodhouse. It will be rehomed in the grounds of the centre where it can be enjoyed by both the public and members of the Service. It will become a space for reflection – honouring those lost in service and offering comfort to anyone who has experienced personal loss or hardship.