Work has begun to transform the gardens of Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice near Cheltenham, following a generous grant from the National Garden Scheme, as part of the National Garden Scheme’s Gardens and Health programme.
In December 2023, the National Garden Scheme made a donation of £40,660 to bring to life a series of kindly gifted designs from RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal-winning designer, Peter Dowle. This will be the second time Peter’s designs have featured in the hospice grounds.
Several areas of the gardens will be transformed to provide a beautiful and peaceful space for patients, their family and friends, and staff and volunteers, to enjoy and reflect. The design includes a mix of trees, shrubs and an eye-catching rose bank which will provide year-round colour and interest.
Housing the only palliative care inpatient unit in Gloucestershire, Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice gives expert and compassionate care to people when they need it the most.
Elise Hoadley, Service Director at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice at a recent NGS Coffee Morning sharing the plans for the garden project.
The redesigned garden will be available to view on 23 June 2024 as part of the National Garden Scheme Open Days scheme.
George Plumptre, Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme, said:
“Giving a grant to Sue Ryder for their hospice garden project joins together our long-term support for hospice care with our Gardens and Health programme which is a fabulous outcome for the National Garden Scheme. Added to this, Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice must be one of the most atmospheric and historic places within the national network of hospices, with a long tradition of gardening around the impressive building, and in recent years has opened their garden in support of the National Garden Scheme. So this project will strengthen our existing partnership and give visitors even more to enjoy.”
Peter Dowle is delighted to be working at the hospice again. He said:
“We are so thrilled to be involved in the hospice garden once again. Sue Ryder is an organisation that has always held a very special place in my heart having provided the best care for my grandmother, for which I am eternally grateful.
“To be involved with this garden and to have been working with Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice since 2016 is a delight. In 2016 we designed the courtyard area, in the main entrance, which included clusters of colour and texture and an olive tree giving it a warm, Mediterranean feeling, and now to the design and planting of the main terrace area this year. This scheme involves a bright and bountiful bank of roses interspersed with lavender for some warm summer scent and lots of interest for pollinators.
“The purpose of the terrace garden is that it is a calm and contemplative space. We are just incredibly proud to be able to contribute to making a very special place more special.”
Elise Hoadley, Service Director at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice said:
“We are so grateful to the National Garden Scheme for this incredibly generous donation, which will help make our gardens even more spectacular and to Peter for his wonderful designs. It’s difficult to convey just how important the hospice grounds are for patients and families, staff members and volunteers. They are places where memories are made and loved ones can be remembered. I can’t wait to see the plans come to life.”
For more information on Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, visit: www.sueryder.org/leckhamptoncourt
For more information on visiting the garden as part of the National Garden Scheme on 23 June, visit: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme (ngs.org.uk)
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Lead Photo: From left to right, NGS trustee Alison Wright, Elise Hoadley, Service Director at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice and NGS Chief Executive Officer, George Plumptre
Presentation Photo: Elise Hoadley, Service Director at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice at a recent NGS Coffee Morning sharing the plans for the garden project.
Both of the above photos – credit the NGS photographs credit Mandy Bradshaw.
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About Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice:
At Sue Ryder, we can’t make life’s most difficult moments easy, but we can carry some of the load. For more than 70 years we have been a source of strength and support for anyone living with a life-limiting illness or grief.
Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone. Here at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice located just outside Cheltenham we provide a safe and reassuring hand for right across Gloucestershire to reach for.
From giving care and support for someone at the end of their life to helping someone manage their grief, we know there is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need.
We campaign for everyone who is approaching the end of their life or grieving to have access to the right support, at the right time. And we seek to break down the barriers to talking about dying and grief – so we can all be better prepared and better equipped to be there for each other.
We can make a positive difference during even the darkest of times. Whether in the last months, weeks or days of life, or living with grief, we help people live the best life they possibly can. We are there when it matters.
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