Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award

The Hospice UK Awards celebrate the innovative work taking place in hospices and palliative care organisations across the UK, and the people involved with them

The Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award is given in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by an individual to a hospice's gardens.

This award is now open for nominations! Enter by 17:00 on 7 September 2026. The winners will be announced at our National Conference in Liverpool on 16 - 18 November 2026. 

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About this award

We understand that hospice gardens are treasured spaces which offer immense benefits to staff, patients and visitors. They are often a place of joy, and they can also be places of solace and sanctuary, especially when grieving or going through challenging times.

Each year, the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award celebrates the invaluable contribution of an individual to their hospice's garden.

Do you have a volunteer gardener at your hospice who uses innovative approaches to enhance your garden? 

Perhaps someone shows exceptional support and encouragement to other volunteers and staff? 

They could be an inspiration and role model to others or have made a significant different to the development of your hospice's outside space.

Nominate them for this award and celebrate their outstanding contributions at our National Conference.  

What the judges are looking for

Please consider the following information when making your nomination:

What is the contribution that you want to recognise?

  • How many years has the individual been volunteering? 
  • What is the work/activity?
  • Who the beneficiaries are, e.g. patients/staff/public. 

How has the individual used innovative approaches, working practices or technologies to enhance their hospice’s garden?

Measurable success and outcome

  • Has the individual acted as a positive role model, demonstrating good practice, values and commitment, and shown leadership by supporting, inspiring and encouraging volunteers and staff?
  • Has the individual made a significant difference to the development/improvement of the hospice gardens? E.g. improving access or benefitted patient, staff and visitor wellbeing. 

 Before making your nomination, please read our submission criteria and general guidance. 

Enter now

To enter the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award, complete our short form and tell us about an individual at your hospice who uses technology or digital tools to enhance the work that you do.

The deadline for nominations is 17:00 on Monday 7 September 2026.  

All of our award winners will be announced at our National Conference in Liverpool on 16 - 18 November 2026

Award Thank you image

Volunteer Gardener of the Year entry form

Complete this form to nominate someone for the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award 2026.

Find out more

Previous winners

Find out more about previous winners of the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award.

Volunteer Gardener of the Year award 2025

2025 Winner: Penny Hall, St Raphael's Hospice

Penny Hall’s compassionate leadership, innovative gardening, and unwavering dedication has transformed St Raphael’s Hospice garden into a sanctuary of peace and healing for all who enter. She is a deserving winner of the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award, kindly supported by National Garden Scheme. 

Read more about the winner
Volunteer Gardener of the Year award 2025

“Winning Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award: it’s a team effort”

Penny Hall is the 2025 winner of Hospice UK's Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award. Her personal connection to St Raphael's Hospice has led to volunteering there, day in, day out.

Find out more
David Waughman, St Columba’s Hospice Care (pictured right) is the 2024 winner of the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award at the Hospice UK Conference

2024 Winner: David Waughman, St Columba’s Hospice Care

This award was given to David Waughman (pictured, right), a volunteer gardener at St Columba’s Hospice Care in Edinburgh, in recognition of the enthusiasm and passion with which he has embraced the role of Compassionate Gardener, and made the Compassionate Gardener programme such a success. 

Find out more about the winner
Graham Stone, Thames Hospice, was the winner of the 2023 Volunteer Gardener of the Year award

2023 Winner: Graham Stone, Thames Hospice

Graham Stone has gone beyond his gardening role, playing an important part in the hospice’s outpatient services, facilitating therapeutic gardening activities for patients and offering companionship.  

He also works with the local community holding workshops with schools, and is a regular speaker about the work of the hospice and its gardens, helping to raise awareness and secure financial donations.  The Awards Panel agreed Graham’s commitment and impact are outstanding.

Graham talks about his work
Winner of the Volunteer Gardener of the Year award was from Pilgrims Hospice, Thanet: Arthur Walkiden (Posthumous)

2022 Winner: Arthur Walkiden (Posthumous), Pilgrims Hospice, Thanet

Arthur Walkiden was a part of Pilgrims Hospice from its opening 30 years ago and showed incredible commitment and dedication to creating and shaping a garden that is a haven for patients and their loved ones as well as staff and volunteers. He was a true ambassador for both garden volunteers and volunteering in general and well-liked and respected by his fellow volunteers and staff at Pilgrims Hospice. 

Judges commented, “we feel Arthur is deserving of the award in recognition of the significant difference he made to the development and care of the hospice garden over 30 years. He demonstrated strong values and commitment, shared knowledge and passion, inspired and encouraged others”.

Find out more about Pilgrims Hospices
Janet Walker won the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award 2021 at the Hospice UK Awards

2021 Winner: Janet Walker, St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds

Having volunteered for over 15 years, Janet Walker is a much valued member of the team, helping to lead volunteers and is instrumental in the annual Open Gardens event.

The Open Gardens event which had to be held virtually in 2020 was a success, with a large part of that due to Janet, who filmed a virtual tour of her own garden, with gardening tips to support the event.

In the height of lockdown, Janet continued to look after the hospice gardens with her own tools. Janet’s compassion extends beyond the gardens and can often be seen chatting to patients, families and making cups of tea if needed.

Find out more about St Gemma's Hospice