The importance of hospice gardens

When keen gardener Stuart arrived at St Michael’s Hospice as a patient, its beautiful garden made the perfect setting.

His daughter reflected on the impact the space had on him in his final days: 

“On the day that Dad died, we stood together as a collective next to the tree of life in the garden overlooking the viaduct. The sun was shining, and we were admiring the flowers- just like the ones Dad had grown in his own garden. I took a picture of a butterfly that had landed near us. Then, I looked down and saw a purple stone that said ‘always with you’ and it meant so much. The serenity that morning was so beautiful and though it was sad, it was also an incredibly positive time.

“The setting was perfect as Dad was a keen gardener. Whenever we are tending to our own flowers, we still feel close to him, imagining he is there giving us advice on our dahlias and our cosmos.”
 

The gardens at Prospect Hospice are a tranquil place, enjoyed by many of the visitors to the hospice throughout the year. Beautifully landscaped and full of seasonally colourful plants, the gardens can be viewed from all of the rooms on the Inpatient Unit and are much admired by patients and their visitors. 

They are visited by a variety of local wildlife too, with deer and pheasants often seen enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of our wonderful green space. In the gardens, you will also find the remembrance areas, including the Bluebell Walk and Memory Tree.

When Robin’s mother was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, the hospice garden set the scene for many special memories: 

“The day before my mother passed away we had such beautiful weather that we moved her bed out onto the patio. We sat her up in her bed so she was lying with nature all around her and could listen to the birds singing. The whole experience was extraordinary and we spent all afternoon out there. 

“To be able to give her the opportunity to breathe fresh air and have the sense of nature around her was a real privilege and in stark contrast to our experience of the hospital. I know she couldn’t have wished for a better ending.”
 

Step into the sensory garden at Chestnut Tree House, and you’ll find a space designed to be felt as much as seen. Carefully maintained by Grounds Manager Nick, the garden is designed to awaken all the senses.

Sight – Bold, block-painted flowers create striking visual contrasts, while colourful portholes encourage children to see the world in new ways - when you look through the red one it feels like you’re on Mars!

Sound – The gentle trickle of water from the globe-shaped feature provides a soothing backdrop, while interactive musical instruments invite children to create their own melodies. 

Touch – Raised beds at varying heights, with plenty of room for wheelchairs, make it easy for everyone to reach the plants. Soft camomile cushions encourage children to sit, roll, or lie down, while feathery grasses, smooth lavender, and spiky mahonia offer a mix of textures to explore.

Smell – Plants have been carefully chosen that are fun to touch and smell – rosemary, lavender, grasses and witch hazel.

Water play – The giant water feature sits in the centre of the garden at just the right height. Children, whether standing or in a wheelchair, can reach out and play with the water.
 

Ria Melvin was a brave, talented and adventurous young woman who loved the outdoors. After she died in August 2021 aged just 25, her family donated £20,000 of fundraised money to a gardening project at Saint Francis Hospice in her memory so more patients and families could enjoy the beautiful gardens all year round.

Ria’s sister, Kaz, shared how much the hospice garden meant to their family: “It was important to us as a family that Ria was honoured in the right way and our first thought was that Ria loved the gardens. She loved being outside. When we spoke to the Hospice and found out there was a gardening project on the wish list, we knew it was meant to be.

“It's wonderful to know more patients and families like us will benefit from the improvements to the garden which include an all-weather pergola and wider paths so patients can be taken into the gardens in their beds if they wish to.

“Knowing we are helping other people has given us a lot of purpose and a meaning to keep going. We have been able to channel our grief into something positive – it is hard to do but it has helped us through a difficult time.”
 

Wildlife is at the heart of St Barnabas Hospice’s Gardens, bringing comfort to patients and their families.

“We try to encourage nature as much as possible into our gardens, people often comment on how lovely it is to look out their windows and see and hear wildlife. Studies have proven that being close to nature has positive impacts on our emotional wellbeing – it can make us feel relaxed, positive, and at ease.”

Because these gardens are private, you’re bound to spot all sorts of wildlife making themselves at home – they even have a family of moorhens that have moved in! The hedgerow around the perimeter of the patient gardens is a great place for birds to nest, and you will find lots of bird feeders to provide the birds with feed during the winter months. 

“We try our best to work with nature, and it’s the little things that make a difference. For example, when we are clearing away fallen leaves, we always try to leave them scattered around the hedgerow for our family of hedgehogs.”
 

Dorothy House aims to make death a part of life, and where better to see this than in nature? 

Their interactive nature trail, situated in the grounds of Winsley House, offers visitors peace and solace; somewhere to reflect and remember, and connect with nature.

The Firefly Woods, a light installation by artist Bruce Munro, have also become a deeply valued space for their community to remember their loved ones. The newly expanded space contains almost 20,000 lights, which move in harmony with the tranquil woodland surrounding them. 

The gardens at Dorothy House are open to all.
 

The gardens at Dougie Mac’s hospice aren’t just beautiful - they’re officially outstanding!

Behind the garden is a team of volunteers, led by unstoppable gardener, Vicki Stephenson. Together, they've dedicated more than 1,000 hours to creating a sanctuary that means the world to patients, families, and staff.

Cris Hammond, Director of HR and Support Services at Dougie Mac, summed it up perfectly: “Having a pleasant, well-maintained environment makes a big difference not only to the wellbeing of our patients, but also to our staff, volunteers and visitors. I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big well done and thank you to Vicki and all the volunteers who have made these awards possible.”
 

When F.B & Sons Lawns & Landscapes invited Primrose Hospice to be part of St Godwald’s Retreat, they were thrilled - and even more so knowing this special garden will be showcased at the RHS Malvern Spring Show in May 2025!

Designed to offer comfort for all who need it, the garden will feature:

• A ‘Wind telephone’ in a hand-built gazebo, offering a space for one-way conversations with lost loved ones.
• The Primrose Memory Tree, a place to celebrate life and share memories; a symbol of a life loved.
• Thoughtful features designed to bring peace and reflection for the hospice’s community.

Angelique Dalton, Chief Executive Officer at Primrose Hospice said: “The opportunity for the hospice to be part of the RHS Malvern Show is just incredible.
“We are all so excited that the garden will be transported and planted here at the hospice after the show has finished. This will enable the patients and clients we support, as well as our volunteers and staff, to benefit from this beautiful garden.”
 

The Fontana Tranquillity Hospice Garden has quite the story to tell. 

Originally designed by Derek Bishop from Tywardreath and Kim Parish of Landscapes of Distinction, this stunning space made its debut at the 2023 BBC Gardeners’ World Live event in Birmingham – where it wowed the judges and won a Silver Merit. But the journey didn’t end there.

Rather than fading into show garden history, the award-winning design found a new home at for Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell.

It’s taken a year for Kim and the incredible team of staff, volunteers, and local businesses to carefully recreate the Fontana Tranquillity Garden in the hospice grounds. On 23 June 2024, it was officially opened by its donor Derek Bishop himself, in front of an audience of invited guests.

Lisa Shephard, Cornwall Hospice Care’s Clinical Lead, said:  “We’re extremely humbled by Derek Bishop’s generous donation of the garden to our hospice where it offers a wonderful outdoor space for everyone from our patients and their carers, families and friends to our own staff and volunteers.  

“It’s overlooked by four of our hospice rooms and our patient conservatory. It’s well thought out design has created very accessible areas and that means we can take patients out in their beds and in wheelchairs.”
 

For many, gardening becomes a quiet companion in grief, something that Royal Trinity Hospice embraces fully.

“Gardening provides a place and space to attend to our grief without intrusion from the ongoing demands of work, family and everyday responsibilities.

“In the act of gardening, we both work and rest in one. 

“A place to think – or not – immersed in an activity outside of ourselves, as well as tending to, or repairing our inner most personal self in the process.  
“The Bereavement Gardening Group is led by Trinity’s Senior Counsellors, and Bereavement Service, in the gardens or greenhouse. Through structured group sessions, participants engage in meaningful activities, such as planting, connecting them to nature, whilst joining the unique community of being with others going through grief too.”
 

Hospice gardens have many stories to tell, and our final story comes from Chris, whose mum, Gill, was looked after by Hospiscare in Exeter before she died in October 2018.

“Mum had spent a few weeks in hospital getting more and more unwell, so we were relieved to hear that Hospiscare had a bed available for her. Her mum, Betty, had been in the very same bed in the hospice 14 years before.

“There is one particular memory of her time in the hospice that has stuck in my mind ever since then.

“It was a gloriously sunny autumn day, and although Mum was confined to her bed, the hospice staff suggested that she might like to go outside into the gardens to enjoy a bit of sunshine.

“So we wheeled her out into the beautiful gardens, and all sat with Mum and chatted in the sun. Her pain was well under control, and we talked about her memories of growing up in Exeter and Australia – it was the last time she was able to talk at length before she died.

“I’ll never forget that day and how we all felt with Mum in the hospice garden: just being together, and connecting with nature. She was truly at peace that day.”