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

“At St Raphael's, my very first role as a volunteer was that of a gardener. I then moved on to become a receptionist, and a compassionate neighbour where I help somebody in the community for one morning a week. I work on the ward as a ward companion. I'm a hospice user group member and a hospice biographer.

"Well, that's the week taken care of - the weekends are another matter!"

“My husband, Stephen, died at St Raphael's three years ago. Whilst he was very poorly in his bed, we looked out of the window onto the gardens, noticing a volunteer working on the border. And I thought, 'I must have a chat with you...what are you doing and how can I join?

"When I spoke to her, I said, 'I haven't got my secateurs, but I can bring them tomorrow.' 

"Apparently they were expecting plants from Wimbledon the following week, and I was invited to have a look at them when they arrived. 

"When I feasted my eyes on the contents of the St Raphael's van, I could see that the gardeners had their work cut out getting them ready for planting, and giving them a good drink.

"After having a conversation with the gardening team, I was hoping to become a Volunteer Gardener very soon. 

“Everyone made me feel very welcome, from day one. There's something about when you walk in to the hospice, where everybody says the magic happens, and it does. And I'm happy to go in there day or night, which is what happens actually. Literally day or night. I absolutely love the place.”

“I just love working in the garden. So that's what I saw at St Raphael’s. More borders, more plants…I just thought, 'bring it on.'

“It went beyond being a keen gardener at home. I trained with the Royal Horticultural Society, did the Practical Diploma in Horticulture Level 2. I love RHS Wisley. That's my local RHS garden and that's my go-to place.

“I completed my qualifications many years ago. I loved working on my own garden at home. And this was just a great opportunity to do more of what I loved.

“At the hospice, I spend one full day there, on a Thursday. In the summer I start at about 7am and I'll work through until 5pm or 6pm, depending on how hot and exhausted I am. We have a team of about 12, all with different strengths... some like doing seeds, I like taking cuttings - that's my real thing - weeding, whatever.

“We do what we can to make the hospice gardens look as attractive as possible and I'm very keen on the entrance to the hospice reflecting the level of care that someone loved one is going to have when they arrive in our hospice."

“As someone who's looking after the garden, I know the headspace and the feelings and emotions that someone might be having.

“Because I'm working in the patient's gardens, I often see the patients and their relatives, and they like to come and talk. And when I'm on reception in the evenings, they clearly want to talk about what's going on and everybody loves to talk about the gardens. They all see that greenery provides a bit of solitude. They enjoy the quiet out there and love watching the birds. 

"It's lovely to hear that I'm making a difference to somebody's life whilst they watch their loved one pass. They can absorb the peace that the plants provide.

“When my husband was at the hospice, I felt the gardens were somewhere that I could go and have a walk around. I’d see what plants they had, and in fact I did take a couple of cuttings…don’t tell my boss! 

“Here at the Hospice UK Conference, I’ve been able to chat to Rupert (National Garden Scheme’s Chair) and I'm going to try and involve St Raphael's in their open gardens scheme.”

“It's such a big umbrella isn't it – people might recognise the Little Yellow Book – and it would mean that we are spreading our wings by joining the National Garden Scheme. I think it would be wonderful for patients, staff, and volunteers to be part of it.

“I think it would show that we've achieved a certain standard. If we were fortunate enough to have the National Garden Scheme behind us, it would be an enormous boost for the gardening team.”

“To win the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award, and the fact that it is sponsored by National Garden Scheme, is quite something!

“I think this award is not just for me, but for the whole gardening team at St Raphael’s. It's a shame they couldn't all be here with me. Sadly we don't manage to get together very often because everybody has their set day that they come and work in the garden. So it's tricky trying to make sure we can all talk about things. 

“It's a very exciting time for the garden. I'm hoping this year coming we can all meet to plan what we're going to do in the garden, and let's look at the garden scheme and see what we can do.”

“I'm looking forward to going to see some other hospices because I'd like to get the South-East together and start looking about what we're all doing in our gardens. Can we share plants? Can we share ideas?

“Could the hospice gardens teams do something together? Absolutely. You know, we've had problems with this plant, have you had some? Have you got any spare of that? Have you got this? Have you got that? What do you think of this? Oh, have you seen that rose? So it's things like that that are inspiring me for the future.”

“Go on, enjoy it, it gives you such a warm feeling. You're part of something and everybody likes a garden to look at, so do what you can, please, go and help them.”

Thank you to Penny Hall for sharing her story.

The Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award, kindly supported by the National Garden Scheme, is given in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by an individual to a hospice or palliative care organisation's gardens.

Hospice Volunteering opportunities

To find out more about volunteering opportunities at your local hospice, you can use our hospice care finder to show where your nearest hospices are located – and contact them for more information.