Patients staying on Royal Trinity Hospice’s Inpatient Unit can enjoy year-round floral colour metres from their beds thanks to a brand-new garden project funded by the National Garden Scheme.

The new-look patio and raised flower beds now offer patients the opportunity to enjoy the many flowers and plants, even if they are unable to venture further out into the garden.

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Chairman of the NGS, Rupert Tyler pictured with various Trinity staff, garden volunteers and fundraisers presenting a plaque to highlight the project funding 

The £4715.80 grant was secured by Trinity’s Fundraising team and is part of the National Garden Scheme’s Community Garden Grants, set up in 2011 in memory of Elspeth Thompson, the much-loved garden writer and journalist.

The grant has been used to purchase equipment and plants to freshen up the patio area, introduce new shrubs, and to build 15 new raised flower beds, which will be maintained along with the rest of the 2-acre gardens by Trinity’s Head Gardener Graham and his team of volunteers.

When Graham joined Trinity in October 2022, he identified areas of the garden that needed some extra attention and set out to improve the patio outside the patient’s rooms on the lower ground floor on the Inpatient Unit. Graham said:

 “I wanted the flower beds to have seasonal colour so that the patients could enjoy them while in our care, no matter the time of year.”

Many of the plants flower at various times of the year so there will always be a colourful display for patients to enjoy throughout the seasons. The plants in the new raised beds range from violas, pansies, and primroses, to hyacinths, daffodils, wallflowers, tulips, and more.

This summer Rupert Tyler, Chairman of the National Garden Scheme, came to visit Trinity to present a plaque which will be fixed to the external wall of the inpatient unit.

The National Garden Scheme’s Community Garden Grants have to-date given out grants to almost 300 projects, totalling £650,000. Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme, George Plumptre, says:

“Community gardens reduce isolation and build friendships, so it is easy to see why people get involved and we are delighted to provide ongoing support to so many inspirational projects.” 

The new shrubs and flower beds and the rest of Trinity’s beautiful 2-acre gardens can be enjoyed by the public during the various Open Garden events taking place throughout the year, with the next opening for the National Garden Scheme taking place on Sunday 15 September.

Our Open Garden Day

More information on our gardens