Little Havens, Essex’s only children’s hospice, has unveiled a breathtaking island garden inspired by Disney’s “Moana”. The space brings together elements based on details from the beloved film, in an immersive and multisensory space created with viral landscaping duo The Green Genie Brothers and The Walt Disney Company UK & Ireland. It opened ahead of the highly anticipated release of Disney’s live-action film “Moana”, which sailed into cinemas Friday 10th July.
The Pacific oasis-inspired garden combines hard landscaping with a relaxed tropical atmosphere. Features include a large bamboo entrance as you step onto the island, with handcrafted fale (houses), lush planting, natural stone features and a bespoke carving of Moana’s rooster friend Heihei crafted from a tree stump. Part of the installation features a striking pebble manta ray set into the garden floor, paying tribute to one of the film’s most beloved motifs. A dynamic water feature brings movement and life to the space, while carefully designed lighting create a fully immersive sensory experience.
Vital to the families supported by Little Havens, the garden has been built with accessibility in mind, ensuring every child — whatever their needs — can enjoy it to the fullest. Among the first to experience the garden was six-year-old Millie, who has been supported by Little Havens since 2021. On her first birthday, Millie was diagnosed with Congenital Myopathy, which is a muscle disorder affecting the muscles inside and outside of her body.
Jay Farr, Millie’s mum, said, “Millie is such a huge Disney fan, so watching her face when she saw the garden for the first time was pure joy. She loved driving round looking at the characters, and particularly liked Tamatoa and his treasure. The evening was wonderful, and you could tell that every single person involved truly cared about what they had created.
Millie was joined by Little Havens’ CEO Louise Bryan, Dan Radford, Vice President, Marketing at The Walt Disney Company, and The Green Genie Brothers to cut the ribbon and officially open the garden.
Jay continued, “Millie was made to feel like a star, and it’s a memory that we will never forget as a family. While we were there, they told Millie the meaning behind the shell and rock centrepiece — that it represents a community, a family — and she loved this. Millie, and other families like ours, go through so much, so when we sit in the garden, we will be reminded that we are not alone, and that is just beautiful. Millie’s still got a huge smile on her face.”
The garden’s design and build were led by The Green Genie Brothers — Jake and Ethan Thorne — Bristol-based luxury landscape gardening duo known for their outdoor transformations and high-end garden builds. Jake and Ethan brought their trademark precision and flair to a project unlike any other in their portfolio for a cause close to their hearts.
Jake Thorne, one half of The Green Genie Brothers, said, “We’ve built some incredible spaces over the years, but nothing has meant more to us than this. Knowing that every stone, every light and every sound in this garden is going to bring something special for families to enjoy, that’s a legacy we’re incredibly proud of.”
“Working with Disney to bring Moana’s world to life for the children at Little Havens has been a huge privilege. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the suppliers and contractors who have helped along the way — we’ve had people travel from all over the country to be part of this and enable us to pull this project off in such a short time. It’s been a huge honour.”
Seven-year-old Nicol from Chelmsford, who has been supported by Little Havens since 2023, was also one of the first to visit the garden.
Nicol’s mum, Ivilina Dimitrova, said “When I saw Nicol’s face, it made my day, as a parent that’s all you want, for her to be smiling and enjoying herself. Every little detail makes you forget where you are and enjoy the magical place of Moana.
“Nicol really enjoyed visiting and we’re already making plans to go back during the summer holidays. She wants to enjoy a picnic and pretend we’re at the beach listening to the ocean. We love the Little Havens’ gardens, but this space is going to be so special for the children and parents too. It’s somewhere we can be ourselves and forget our worries for a moment.”
Louise Bryan, Chief Executive Officer at Little Havens, explains the importance of this project. “Every child who comes through our doors just wants to be like other children their age, even when their condition can make that really hard. They deserve moments of pure wonder, and this garden delivers exactly that. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of The Walt Disney Company UK & Ireland, and the incredible artistry of The Green Genie Brothers, we now have a new space that our children and their families can enjoy for years to come — a place where imagination, fun and care come together. We are enormously grateful to everyone who made this possible.”
“So often our families miss out on things, whether that’s from having to spend time in hospital or facing accessibility challenges that make everyday experiences harder to reach. To have something so special and unique, designed just for them, is incredible.”
This is the latest project as part of Disney’s long-standing collaboration with Together for Short Lives, the national charity supporting children’s hospices across the UK. Since 2017, The Walt Disney Company UK & Ireland has worked with the charity to bring joy to seriously ill children and create moments that matter for the whole family. This is part of Disney’s mission to deliver over one million magical moments of comfort and togetherness for children across EMEA by 2030.
Dan Radford, Vice President, Marketing, The Walt Disney Company added: “Creating moments of joy for children and families facing serious illness is at the heart of Disney’s social impact work. This garden is a wonderful reminder of how stories like Moana can be brought to life and provide a sense of escape, comfort, and togetherness for families when it’s needed most.”
The “Moana”-inspired garden is now open and available for children and families at Little Havens Hospice to enjoy during their visits and stays.
Discover how this special space was created and watch the magic unfold from start to finish –
Every penny we raise goes straight towards caring for our children and families, so we could never have afforded a magical garden. We are enormously grateful to everyone who made this possible
If you’d like to help Little Havens continue its expert and compassionate care, please consider making a donation today www.havenshospices.org.uk/donate
