St Barnabas Hospice is delighted to announce that its Sensory Show Garden has been awarded Highly Commended by the President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.
The Hospice can’t thank the staff and students at Riseholme College enough for their help with planting the garden and building the wheelchair-friendly flowerbeds and archway out of recycled, sustainable materials. The hospice would also like to thank everyone else who contributed to the development of the garden.
Visitors flocked to the garden over the two days of the Lincolnshire Show, learning more about the Hospice and why the garden’s sensory and accessibility features are so important. To gain a moment’s respite from the beating sun, visitors also enjoyed the first taste of St Barnabas Hospice’s new gin, Est.1982 Ruby, produced by long-standing Charity Partners of the Hospice, Bottomley Distillers.
The garden, which was originally intended for St Barnabas Hospice’s wellbeing centre in Boston before the pandemic, was designed by local landscape gardener Caroline Stanley from Inspirational Gardens. The garden is a reflective and relaxing space for all to enjoy, designed with the senses in mind and dementia-friendly elements with fragrant plants and some raised beds allowing patients of all mobility to touch and smell the flowers.
Head of Fundraising and Lottery, Veronica McBain, said: “Of course, this isn’t just our award. This has been a huge collaborative project for us and I want to thank everyone who has gone above and beyond, especially the students of Riseholme College who worked in the heat to plant the garden and build the wheelchair-friendly raised beds.
“With thanks to Caroline Stanley, who designed the garden, and Amy and Alan, who have supported us not only with the Garden but with the launch of our third gin, Est.1982 Ruby, which launched with us at the Lincolnshire Show. Finally, we’d like to thank the Showground, who initiated the project and invited us to create a Garden suitable to display at the Show.
“The Hospice simply could not help the people of Lincolnshire without the support of people like this. Thank you.”
Curriculum Area Manager for the Land-Based Department at Riseholme College, Lenny Malloy, said: “We were approached by St Barnabas over two years ago now, asking if we’d be interested in creating a garden at the Show for them and it just so happened that it marked their 40th anniversary.
“The students have been heavily involved, they’ve been involved in the design of the garden, in conjunction with Pin Gin, all the way through to sourcing and planting the plants.”
The Sensory Garden will be moved and incorporated into St Barnabas Hospice’s wellbeing centre in Louth for both patients and staff to enjoy.