Your chance to visit hospice garden

TWO events are coming up at St Peter’s Hospice – Open Gardens on Sunday 8 September and an Art Exhibition on Saturday 14 September.

The garden is open for the public to enjoy from10am to 4pm. St Peter’s Hospice gardener Anneke van Eijkern and a team of garden volunteers will be on hand to welcome visitors and answer questions.

Anneke said: “It’s a privilege to manage a garden that means so much to people. The gardens offer comfort and enjoyment to our patients and their family and friends, as well as to our staff, who do such a wonderful job. I think the gardens are part of what makes St Peter’s so special and we’re really looking forward to sharing that with our local communities.”

The gardens are an integral part of St Peter’s Hospice and create a calm and peaceful environment for patients and families. Pathways around the gardens are smooth and flat so that wheelchair users can enjoy the space and explore. The grounds include a low-allergen Courtyard Garden, small Japanese inspired garden, sensory beds and an enclosed walled garden.

Throughout the day there will be a range of activities including talks and workshops, tours and music. Special guest, RHS gold-medal winning garden designer, Jane Porter, will be talking about the Chelsea gardens she’s designed.

Admission to the Open Gardens is £6 per person, with under 16s going free. By buying a ticket visitors help to support the work of the hospice. Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome and light lunches, a range of delicious home-made cakes and cream teas will be available to buy.

Visitors also have the exclusive opportunity to explore the arts and crafts created by patients attending courses at St Peter’s Hospice day services department in a special showcase on Saturday 14 September from 10.30am- 4pm.

Day services art tutor David Hunter, hospice volunteer Fergus MacBeth, staff member Sally Evans and others will be exhibiting artwork which will be for sale, with a percentage from all sales made being donated to the hospice. Craftwork made by patients will also be available for sale and refreshments served in a garden marquee at the event.

Both events take place at St Peter’s Hospice, Charlton Road, Brentry, Bristol BS10 6NL. Entry to the art exhibition is free. To purchase a ticket for the Open Gardens, see: www.stpetershospice.org/opengardens