Garden centre workers make hospice bloom

ROTHERHAM Hospice is going to look bloomin’ lovely… thanks to volunteers and workers at a garden centre which provides support to people with mental health needs and learning disabilities.

Members of the Rotary Club of Rotherham decided to buy their plants from The Walled Garden at St Catherine’s in Balby, Doncaster, to help them put some colour in the hospice’s garden.

Mike Smith, a non-executive director for Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), who run The Walled Garden, is also chairman of the Rotherham Rotary Club’s environmental committee.

He said: “We always buy plants for the Rotherham Hospice garden and members are volunteer gardeners every Thursday night during summer.

“When we were discussing where to buy our plants from everyone thought that getting them from The Walled Garden was a great idea.

“It’s a great project to support and I’m sure these plants will bring joy to the hospice’s patients and visitors.”

Hospice fund-raiser Anne Giblin added: “We are very grateful to both Rotherham Rotary Club and The Walled Garden for helping to make our gardens extra special.

“Our patients and their families and friends spend a lot of time in the tranquillity of the hospice gardens, and so it is important to keep them looking their best.”

The Walled Garden and café at Balby is open to the public on weekdays: Mondays between 10am and 4pm; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9am to 4pm; Fridays between 9am and 3pm and on Sundays between 11am and 4pm.