Imelda Staunton and Jim Broadbent visit Brain Appeal's Chelsea garden

The National Brain Appeal’s ‘Rare Space’ Sanctuary Garden - sponsored by Project Giving Back - shines a spotlight on forms of dementia and also won best in show and best construction at the world famous event.

Dame Joanna Lumley, Joanna David, West Hampstead couples Sir Derek Jacobi and Richard Clifford, and Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter, and fellow North West London thespian Jim Broadbent joined the charity's offical ambassador Stephen Graham for the opening day.

Brain Appeal ambassador Stephen Graham is shown around the award-winning garden by designer Charlie Hawkes. (Image: Ginger Horticulture)

Graham has supported the charity since playing Tony, a middle-aged man with young-onset Alzheimer’s in the Channel 4 drama, Help.

Hawkes showed the celebrities around the garden, pointing out the features that make it accessible for people with rare dementias, particularly those with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), where patients have difficulty seeing what and where things are.

Stephen Graham OBE said: "It has been an absolute pleasure to spend time on The National Brain Appeal’s ‘Rare Space’ garden and to understand how you can design and use certain types of plants, trees and flowers to make it somewhere that people with rare dementias can enjoy and feel safe.

Actor Joanna David who is mum to Emilia and Freddie Fox, with Dame Joanna Lumley at The Chelsea Flower Show. (Image: Marie Mangan)

"When I was researching young-onset Alzheimer’s for my character Tony in Help, I was privileged to work with Rare Dementia Support, funded by The National Brain Appeal. I saw first-hand, what an absolute lifeline these groups are for people and their loved ones affected by rare dementias. These are often people with jobs and young families and their worlds are turned upside-down. I found the experience of talking to them really humbling.

"It is brilliant that this garden is going to live on after the show and be relocated to the world’s first Rare Dementia Support Centre that the charity is currently fundraising for."

Perhaps best known for playing The Queen in The Crown, West Hampstead actor Imelda Staunton was joined by Joanna David in the National Brain Appeal garden. (Image: Marie Mangan)

The National Brain Appeal aims to improve the lives of people affected by neurological conditions and funds pioneering research, innovative treatments, and world-class facilities at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the UCL Institute of Neurology in London. The charity is currently raising £7 million for a Rare Dementia Support Centre where the garden will be relocated in 2024/25 as a tranquil space for patients and their families.

Sebastian Crutch, UCL professor of neuropsychology and clinical lead for Rare Dementia Support, said while people associate dementia with old age and memory issues, there are rare forms that affect vision, language, movement and behaviour.

Sir Derek Jacobi with designer Charlie Hawkes and partner Richard Clifford. (Image: Marie Mangan)

"People can be much younger when they start to experience symptoms, typically when they are in the 40s, 50s and 60s, when they are still working and have family commitments. People’s lives are turned upside-down when they get a diagnosis and that’s why Rare Dementia Support is so vital to help them navigate the changes and come to terms with their new reality."

Charlie Hawkes' gold medal-winning Sanctuary Garden is at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show until May 27.