Entire Chelsea Show garden delivered to Aberdeen

Earlier this summer the Royal Bank of Canada’s “Blue Water Roof Garden” won Gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and the bank announced it would be donating the prize-winning garden to form part of the new therapeutic roof garden planned for Aberdeen Royal Infirmary The bank’s generous offer left the coordinators of the appeal for the planned roof garden at the hospital with a major transportation headache - until local transport company ARR Craib Transport stepped in to help out. And this morning the entire garden was delivered to the Ben Reid Garden Centre in Aberdeen’s Countesswells Road where it will stored until it can be finally installed on the roof of the infirmary later in the year. The garden was transported from London to Aberdeen on pallets on three lorries. Eddie Anderson, managing director of ARR Craib Transport, said: “As a company based in the North east, we like to support local charities in the area where and when we can. We are fortunate to have the resources to collect the roof garden from London, and we’re happy to be able to support this fantastic cause.” He added: “It’s certainly one of the most unusual loads that we have ever had to transport - we’ve delivered loads of fencing, garden supplies and even compost in the past, but never an entire garden. I’m sure that the therapeutic roof garden will be a most welcome addition to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, and that patients and family will reap the benefits in years to come.” The campaign for the therapeutic roof garden is being led by the Rev James Falconer, the Chaplain at NHS Grampian. He said: “We are extremely grateful for the generous support of ARR Craib Transport in ensuring that this fantastic gift is delivered to its new home. It would have taken a significant amount of time, effort and resources to fund-raise for the transportation, so we were absolutely delighted when ARR Craib offered us help in kind. “We are very proud indeed that the Royal Bank of Canada chose to support our project which will be for the benefit of inpatients and their families.” The RBC Blue Water Roof Garden was designed by the London 2012 Olympic Park design consultant, Professor Nigel Dunnett. Mr Falconer said: “Plans for the garden are at an early stage and we look forward to working with Professor Dunnett as he adapts the garden for its new home at ARI.”