Community is united with work to put in 1,000 plants
A BIG community effort is behind creating Serenity Garden in the grounds of East Cheshire Hospice.
Corporate supporters are joining volunteers from the charity’s regular gardening team and Bollington families to put 1,000 plants into the ground.
Mark Marshall’s team from Lawn Stripes and Hedges, of Macclesfield, has already undertaken preparatory landscape work, his poodle Button never far away.
Mark’s eco-friendly landscaping company has raised funds and also supports the Hospice by loaning vans for
Christmas tree collections.
He said: “It’s a local project involving design, landscaping and planting. “Cheshire Demolition donated skips and Pivotal Plant Hire gave a big discount on diggers.”
Retired practice nurse Deborah Roberts has been a volunteer gardener at East Cheshire for 14 years. She said: “We’re all excited by the whole project of learning and seeing a new garden emerge. This oasis will be lovely to see from the wards and it’s wonderful working with our designer Ben Darlington who’s so knowledgeable.
“He’s keen to have nature here all year round and this space is going to be fantastic.
“We can keep labour costs down by working alongside Ben.”
The hospice is always looking for volunteer gardeners who meet on Wednesday mornings.
For more details contact volunteer co-ordinator Helena Smith hsmith@ echospice.org.uk
Ben said: “The new garden is 120 square metres of herbaceous border, so we needed a design manageable for them.
“I’ve taken a low maintenance approach, so they don’t have to worry about watering it in the summer, or staking, pruning and feeding.”