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Flowers in bloom at Katharine House Hospice

29/09/2021
This article is more than two years old.
Brian Ashdown

Patients and staff at Katharine House Hospice can enjoy some beautiful flowers in the surrounding gardens thanks to this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

'Finding our Way: an NHS Tribute Garden' was recently at the recent RHS Chelsea Flower show, and it was decided that Katharine House hospice would be a perfect home for the leftover plants.

You can read more about the tribute garden in our news story.

The project was supported by Brian Ashdown, volunteer Head Gardener based at Katharine House Hospice.

Trevor Johnson, CEO at Katharine House Hospice Charity, said: "We are incredibly grateful for this generous gift. We also received a donation of roses following the postponement of the Chelsea show earlier this year, and this addition will certainly add to the pleasure our staff and patients have already experienced.

"I am sure that they will be enjoyed by all at our hospice for many years to come. It is our 30th anniversary this year, and this also feels like a lovely way to mark this – as well as being a fantastic continuation of the feelings of gratitude and thanks that the original tribute garden represented."

Professor John Frater, a consultant at OUH, was part of the Chelsea garden team and was involved in arranging the donations. He said: "It was really an honour to be part of this whole project, and I'm incredibly pleased that parts of the Chelsea garden will live on to be enjoyed by not only patients at Katharine House, but staff too – the original garden was a gesture of gratitude to NHS staff and this feels like a very fitting ongoing tribute."

Sam Foster, Chief Nursing Officer at OUH, said: "We're incredibly touched by generous and kind gesture. Spending time in the gardens is incredibly beneficial for both patients and staff at the hospice, and being in beautiful surroundings and taking a moment to themselves can really add to their experience."