On first sight the ‘woodland
area’ at this Hospice was a wilderness. A mass
of uncontrolled trees shading all the light from a
natural but unappetising pond and the area was covered
in nettles and brambles.
 Could we create a sensory garden? That was the question.
The answer many months later was ‘yes’.
The Army and the RAF along with a local tree surgeon
cleared the site, cut down half the trees, tidied up
the rest and we had approximately quarter of an acre
to work on.
Designer Anna McArthur and contractors Ken Alger Ltd
got to work. New paths were laid along with raised
beds; a sensory area was set out with sensible shrub
and perennial plantings; bird feeders and tables set
up and the site has been transformed.
The garden was declared open by Peter Seabrook on
Thursday 16 September 2004 – our 14th completed
garden – on a beautiful sunny day. Present were
local radio, staff and volunteers as well as the designer,
contractor and representatives of the RAF team in uniform.
We hardly recognised them. At the opening the Chief
Executive Officer said that it was such a mess when
he joined the Hospice Group 18 months ago that he hadn’t
realised it was their land.
Today it is, and the best comment comes from the staff
at the Hospice: ‘What can we say, the children
love it.’ And to cap it all, on the day of the
opening we had a family of thrushes who came to look.
Generously donated materials:
Paving – Bradstone
Gazebo and picket fence – Dandf
Pump & filter - Oase
Geotextile planting membrane – TDP
Sleepers and pavers - Bannolds
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