Garden transformation at Pine Lodge, Hospiscare

The garden at Pine Lodge in Tiverton has come a long way since Hospiscare opened the Day Care Unit based on Post Hill in 2011.

What was little more than a dumping ground just over a year ago is almost unrecognisable today.

A team of volunteers have worked tirelessly to take the garden in hand and transform the green space ready for an open garden event being held on 8 June.

The garden had been an overrun mass of trees, bushes and rabbits, but has since become a haven for patients at the unit, which is now beginning to burst with spring colour.

The 12 volunteers led by Michael Hickson, former head gardener for National Trust-run Knightshayes, have spent months working in adverse weather conditions to create a safe, sensory experience for patients at the centre, but also a garden that will help the unit’s kitchen to become self-sufficient.

Garden volunteer Paul Stevenson said “One of our volunteers, Harry, planted up the vegetable patch and it's already produced beetroots, carrots, curly kale and onions.”

The volunteers are hoping they will be able to sell some of the vegetables produced in the garden to raise money for the centre once the patch is more established.

Paul said “We’d like to get a greenhouse up here to grow tomatoes and peppers. We also have a herb garden with mint, rosemary, thyme, and fennel - all things that can be used in the kitchen.

“We are already providing vegetables and herbs to the kitchen and patients are having [the produce] in their meals.”

The beautiful garden will be open to the public from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday June 8 and people are invited to enjoy the mature trees, herbaceous plants and shrubs all found in the wheelchair-accessible grounds.

A year-round display of colour, scents and sounds has been the vision of Michael Hickson who has brought his knowledge, expertise and time to oversee the design of the garden.

The garden runs a full circle around the day centre and has proved very popular not only with the patients but also with some unwelcome visitors who threatened the garden’s development.

Paul said: “Not long after we put the vegetable garden in we discovered we had a major rabbit problem here.

“We put a fence and chicken wire all the way round, and Harry got a sign made for the gate asking for it to be pulled shut when people finished for the day.

“I came here one day and the gates had been left open, I drove in and there must have been 40 rabbits sat on the path just looking at me.”

Rabbits are not the only wildlife to have taken a shine to the garden, with deer prints also found in the soil and a chorus of songbird ringing out in the otherwise calm and peaceful space.

The volunteers are currently trying to encourage a protected species to take up residence in the garden after receiving a donation of boxes from the British Bat Society.

Paul said: “A guy from the Bat Society came and briefed me on where the bat boxes should go in the garden.

“The bats love the canal and the guy said that the garden is on the route to the canal. But the garden may not be suitable for bats - we may end up with loads or zero.”

Recycling has been a key part of making the garden work as Hospiscare relies on donations to see projects, like the garden at Pine lodge, to fruition.

Wood that had been removed from pathways, which were unsuitable for wheelchair use, has since been re-used to make a double compost heap, while donated guttering will help the volunteers to fill water butts and keep the plants watered.

The volunteers have not only been generous with their time but have also pitched in to help provide vital provisions for the garden.

Paul said: “The thing that’s really surprised me is the amount of people that have offered free help, not only our volunteers, there’s actually a lot of other volunteers who have come and offered their help too.

“We all bring something different to the mix; we’re a small band of volunteers and we’re always looking for more help.”

Pine Lodge is one of three day centres run by Hospiscare and for many of the patients, who have life-limiting illnesses, it is somewhere they can go to receive specialist care, complimentary therapies or even just to have a bath.

The garden has been a hit with patients, with some adding their own touches by donating seeds which they associate with family holidays, blue skies and sunshine.

Paul said: “We have had a lot of the patients come out to the garden and walk around and they’re always asking questions so Michael will go and explain things.

“One patient brings in sunflower seeds for us; sunflowers are his thing, he loves them.

Entry to the Pine Lodge garden on 8 June costs £3 and a plant sale, raffle and refreshments will also be available.

For more information visit http://www.hospiscare.co.uk/Events/event_pages/Pine+Lodge+Garden or call 01392 688093.