EVEN in her final days, a Reading stalwart was still thinking of ways to help make the town a better place.
Former Reading Evening Post deputy editor Hilary Scott died last summer, and was admitted to the Sue Duchess of Kent Hospice for palliative care. She enjoyed its grounds so much that she nominated the gardens for Reading in Bloom.
And it was named the winner in the Wellbeing Garden category when the awards were revealed in the run-up to Christmas.
In the nomination, she wrote: “It is a wonderful garden run by volunteers. Patients use it to sit or walk or wheelchair around and the staff use it to eat their lunch or for coffee breaks. In summer staff even have meetings there.
“The garden is a mix of well-established shrubs and bushes and perennials. There’s a greenhouse for growing and pots scattered around too. If any garden can claim to be a wellbeing garden this one can.”
The gardens to the Lienbenrood Road hospice are maintained by a team of volunteers and they are thrilled to be recognised.
Volunteer gardener for 22 years and Southcote resident Kate Leask collected the award.
She said: “It means a lot that someone has taken the trouble to nominate us and thinks the grounds are worthy of recognition in these awards.
“When we’re out in the garden we often have patients or family members who come up to us and ask what different plants are or for some gardening advice. It’s nice to know that people are interested in what we are doing and they tell you how much the garden lightens their spirits.”
She added: “It’s lovely that patients can get out of their rooms and spend time getting some fresh air and looking at the variety of different plants and wildlife that we have here. That’s why I do it – to bring some pleasure to people at what is a very difficult time.”
And staff at the hospice were equally thrilled, saying it was a fantastic achievement that is testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.
Service director Louise Lucio said: “The team work incredibly hard all year round, whatever the weather, to ensure that the grounds are colourful, welcoming, and offer a tranquil open space for our patients, staff and visitors.”
New volunteers are welcomed as garden maintenance is an ongoing job.
Ms Leask said “We all go in together once a week on a Wednesday morning, but the role is flexible and people can choose to come in on any day they choose for as long as they like. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any gardening knowledge or experience – we are here to help and it is a great way to learn and pick up new skills.”
For more information about volunteering with Sue Ryder, visit: sueryder.org/volunteer
For more information on Reading in Bloom, log on to: readinginbloom.co.uk
