Award Winning Bridgerton Garden Permanently Opens at Cambridge University Hospitals

Yesterday, Thursday 15 May, Netflix and Shondaland proudly unveiled the Bridgerton Garden at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — a permanent, accessible green space that hopes to bring a moment of peace and reflection to NHS patients, staff and the surrounding community.

Designed by Holly Johnston for Netflix and Shondaland to celebrate the release of Bridgerton Season 3, the garden made its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2024, where it won a Silver medal. Now, with its permanent relocation to the surrounding wards at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), which includes The Rosie Hospital and Addenbrooke’s, the garden has been carefully reimagined as a lasting gift to the hospital and local community.

Rajiv Nathwani, VP of Marketing UK at Netflix said:  “To see the Bridgerton Garden in its permanent location at Cambridge University Hospitals is a full-circle moment for us. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that the garden will offer a sanctuary to staff, patients and local residents. This garden is more than just a physical space; it stands as a testament to the power of storytelling to inspire connection.”

Nearly every element of the original garden, from its signature moongate and period water feature, to the hand carved stone sculpture and symbolic planting, has been sustainably repurposed, with Johnston again at the helm.

Holly Johnston, Garden Designer said: “It’s an enormous privilege to relocate the Bridgerton Garden to Cambridge University Hospitals and know that this space will have such a positive impact on people's healing. This garden was designed to tell a story of personal growth and now, as it finds its permanent home, it’s hoped that this space will continue to play a part in the diverse stories of patients, visitors and staff, offering moments of calm and connection during both joyful and challenging times.”

The design has been adapted to be fully accessible by eliminating level changes, introducing a secondary access point and widening the garden path to accommodate wheelchair users and for easy maintenance as a public space. Johnston has refined the plant selection to include lower maintenance shrubs, ornamental grasses, and long-season perennials, specifically chosen for their hardiness in a high-traffic environment.

The official opening was marked by a special ribbon-cutting ceremony led by designer Holly Johnston, and Ian Walker, Director of Corporate Affairs at Cambridge University Hospitals, and will be commemorated by a plaque at a later date. Guests were welcomed with a performance from internationally renowned orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, who brought the world of Bridgerton to life with a selection of music from the series.

Lorraine Szeremeta, Chief Nurse at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “Outdoor space is so important for aiding recovery and improving mental health and wellbeing, so we are absolutely delighted to have such a beautiful environment within the heart of the hospital grounds. The Bridgerton Garden will act as a permanent, therapeutic place for our patients, families, staff and the whole hospital community to retreat to and enjoy.” 

The ongoing care of the garden will be led by Stephen Chandler, the CUH Grounds & Gardens Supervisor, who has worked closely with Holly since its initial planting in March. There are plans for community involvement, such as an annual spring bulb display, ensuring the garden evolves with the care of local volunteers.

Note to Editors

The relocation of this garden was project-managed by WT Partnership through their CSR programme, alongside Stewart Landscapes and Holly Johnston. 

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare's "Space to Breathe" study in 2020 found that NHS staff who regularly spent time in hospital green spaces reported significantly higher levels of well-being. 

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films, and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching, as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time. 

About Shondaland

Shondaland is the global media company founded by award-winning writer and producer Shonda Rhimes. The company fearlessly entertains through storytelling with content for film, streaming, audio, digital and editorial as well as brand partnerships, merchandise and experiences. Shondaland has an exclusive partnership with Netflix where it produces streaming content for the media company, including record-breaking series “Bridgerton” and its spinoff series “Queen Charlotte,” ’’Inventing Anna,” “Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker,” documentary “Black Barbie” and “The Residence”. In 2017, Shondaland launched the editorial website Shondaland.com followed by the creation of Shondaland Audio in 2019. Shondaland was launched in 2005 with the groundbreaking series “Grey’s Anatomy.

About CUH

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) is one of the largest and best known trusts in the country, delivering high-quality patient care through Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie maternity hospitals. CUH is a leading national centre for specialist treatment for rare or complex conditions and a university teaching hospital with a worldwide reputation.

CUH is a key partner in Cambridge University Health Partners (CUHP), one of only eight academic health science centres in the UK, and is at the heart of the development of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC), which brings together on one site a range of organisations involved in world-class biomedical research, patient care and education. The Campus hosts the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.  

About Holly Johnston

Holly is an award-winning garden designer, specialising in creating distinctive outdoor spaces for private and commercial clients in the UK and overseas. Passionate about sustainable design, her conceptual approach balances formality with organic charm and understated elegance, often drawing inspiration from the rolling landscapes of her native New Zealand. Based in London, Holly works on a varied range of projects, from carefully composed rooftops and courtyards to large-scale, modern country gardens. Prior to her career in garden design, she worked for many years in magazines and media in New York before gaining a post-graduate diploma in Landscape and Garden Design.