Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford has raised £15,000 after the delightful Allington Castle Gardens, which is not normally open to the public, opened its doors for the charity on Sunday 20 July and Sunday 3 August 2025.
Event Manager at the hospice Maisie Bass said: “We’d like to thank Allington Castle for opening the gates to their beautiful gardens not once, but twice, this summer for our supporters to enjoy. Both events were sold out and we are on track to raise an amazing £15,000. We would also like to thank all our wonderful volunteers who are so essential to the success of our fundraising events, without them we would not be able to hold all our annual events.”
Allington Castle is a medieval 12th-century castle nestled in 42 acres of picturesque woodland on the banks of the Medway River, located about three miles northwest of Maidstone. Among the many grand spaces within the castle is the Great Hall, where Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn dined with Sir Thomas Wyatt around 1530. This historical gem provides a fascinating glimpse into England’s rich past, complimented by the natural beauty of its woodland and riverside setting. The vibrant, eco-friendly gardens and grounds are also home to a diverse array of thriving wildlife.
As most hospices are local charities, including Heart of Kent Hospice, they only receive a small amount of NHS funding and rely heavily on local fundraising. The hospice has to raise 80% of the £6.6 million it costs each year to support thousands of people as well as their families, friends and carers living in our community both at home and in the hospice. By supporting their annual events, everyone can help the hospice to continue providing free end of life care and support to those living with a terminal illness who need our services in the Maidstone, Aylesford, Tonbridge, and surrounding areas.
The next event being held by the hospice is the sponsored ‘Moonlit Walk’ on 4 October 2025 which will see walkers pass through Allington Castle and also enjoy the magical one mile moonlit trail in Cobtree Manor Park. To book visit https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/MoonlitWalk2025
Each year the hospice events team organises a calendar of exciting events to raise vital funds for the hospice. From sporting challenges to family events, there is something for everyone. To find out more visit www.hokh.org/support-us/events/
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Heart of Kent Hospice has been providing free, compassionate, end-of-life care to people living with a terminal illness and their loved ones in Maidstone, Aylesford, Tonbridge and Malling and the surrounding towns and villages for the past 34 years.
The hospice has built an excellent reputation within the local community for the quality of its care, which has been further endorsed by the Care Quality Commission who awarded us with an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ following an inspection in February 2017.
Our vision is for everyone living with a terminal illness in our community to achieve the best quality of life. We are committed to achieving this by enabling them to live in comfort, with independence and dignity to the end of their lives, and to support those closest to them.
Last year the hospice cared for over 2,000 patients and their families in their own homes or at our Aylesford-based hospice. Our charity needs to raise £6.6 million to deliver all the hospices services, and we depend heavily on our loyal community of supporters, whose generous donations and fundraising activities raise money for us every year.
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