Moving Forward – Building My Best Possible Life

Sponsored by Cheshire Ireland Designer: Ruaidhrí Bashford

This garden reflects the partnership between Cheshire Ireland, an organisation that supports adults with physical and neurological conditions, and the people who use the services.

Leonard Cheshire, a Victoria Cross decorated RAF Officer in WW2, founded Cheshire in 1948. A pioneer in healthcare for adults with disabilities, he opened the first service in Ireland in 1961 in Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow. His legacy lives on in over 50 countries around the world.

Birch trees, a pioneer forest species, represent the influence of Leonard Cheshire’s work ethos and the continuation of that work in Ireland today. The willow wattle, willow nest and Irish woodland signifies the support the organisation gives to people in making positive choices around where they live. This combined with the sculpture of a figure facing forward indicate balance, growth, learning and harmony. They are a tribute to the people living in Cheshire Ireland Services who use the challenges they face in life to grow and move forward.