
Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award

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.
The 2025 Award is now open for nominations! The winners will be announced at the Hospice UK National Conference in Liverpool in November.
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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
Read our submission criteria and general guidance.
You might like to include the following information when making your nomination:
- Why the person is being nominated?
- How many years have they been volunteering?
- What is the impact of their commitment?
- How has their contribution to gardening benefitted patient, staff and visitor wellbeing?
- What did they do exactly?
2025 Prize
This year, the winner of the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award will receive a prize of garden tools of their choice worth up to £400, for use at their hospice.
We would like to thank Webb for their kind donation of this prize.
Enter now
To nominate someone for the 2025 award, please complete our short online form.
The deadline for submitting entries and nominations is 5pm on Monday 8 September 2025.
The winners will be announced at our National Conference in Liverpool from 25-27 November 2025.
Previous winners
Find out more about previous winners of the Volunteer Gardener of the Year Award.

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. He has made a positive impact on the lives of those to whose gardens he has provided tender loving care; forming bonds of friendship with the husbands around a shared love of gardening and continuing to help the wives, after the deaths of their husbands, reconnect with their gardens.

2023 Winner: Graham Stone, Thames Hospice
Graham 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.

2022 Winner: Arthur Walkiden (Posthumous), Pilgrims Hospice, Thanet
Arthur 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”.
2021 Winner: Janet Walker, St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds
Having volunteered for over 15 years, Janet 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.