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Rugby legend inspires garden tackling HIV stigma

Oscar Edwards
BBC News
Tackle HIV Gareth Thomas smiling in the garden. He is wearing a Tackle HIV T-shirt and has his arm out signalling towards the gardens beauty.Tackle HIV
The garden is inspired by the former rugby player's own experiences with HIV

A Welsh rugby legend has served as the inspiration for a garden that aims to tackle the stigma around HIV.

Gareth Thomas, who revealed he was HIV positive in 2019, teamed up with designer Manoj Malde for the feature.

The garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, which the player affectionately known as Alfie said was "two years in the making" is a celebration of how far treatment of the virus has come.

Thomas - who was the first player to win 100 caps for Wales - said he was proud to have created a space that shared a message of acceptance in a "beautiful, different way."

"I came to the Chelsea Flower Show to de-stigmatise the HIV virus. Coming here, I felt that people wouldn't understand or accept me," Thomas told Radio Wales Breakfast.

He said this garden was his way of changing that and it was a "fantastic platform" to deliver an important message in a creative way.

"What we've managed to do is create a story of a lived experience through the beauty of plants and sculpture," he said.

He wanted it to recognise the "lives lost" to the HIV epidemic in the 1980s adding that this was a way "to remember them".

About 39.9 million people worldwide are living with HIV, according to the most recent figures for 2023.

RHS/Neil Hepworth A picturesque garden seen with colourful flowers blooming. There is a seated area in the corner with red ribbons hanging from it.RHS/Neil Hepworth
The garden includes features including red ribbons which are the international symbol for HIV support

The garden has a number of features, including inspirational words etched into objects associated with the stigmas attached to HIV treatment.

There is a bridge over the water symbolising a leap of faith and red ribbons, a universal symbol of HIV awareness and support, in a seated area.

RHS/Neil Hepworth A bench sits in the garden with the words 'Undetectable = Untransmittable' written on it as a sign of RHS/Neil Hepworth
Inspirational words have been carved into a bench reflecting on the empowerment that HIV treatment offers

"We hit it off straight away. Our thoughts about the garden were on the same page," said Malde.

Both men wanted it to be a message of "positivity" and Malde said it was "brilliant to take Gareth's personal experiences and translate them into something that is beautiful".

He added: "If you look at the colour in this garden it is joyful. Gareth is always full of joy and that comes through in this garden."

Tackle HIV Manoj Malde surrounded by the red ribbons attached to the seating area. Th red ribbons are a symbol of HIV awareness and support. He is wearing a red and black suit, has a gold hopped earrings in his right ear and a grey moustache and goatee.Tackle HIV
Former fashion designer Manoj Malde said it was a "wonderful challenge" to be involved with creating this "amazing space"

Thomas said HIV was "still misunderstood" which is why stigma still exists.

"I have experienced and heard first hand stories and I am determined to change this," he added.

"I take one tablet a day and it doesn't stop me from doing anything mentally or physically. I live a normal, happy, healthy life."

RHS/Neil Hepworth A vast number of plants sit in the foreground showing beautiful colours with the shelter RHS/Neil Hepworth
The garden has a wide variety of plants representing the diversity within the HIV community
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