Retired couple give up their free time to create colourful garden for children in hospital
A kind-hearted couple have given up their free time to create a tranquil and colourful garden for poorly children and their families.
Green-fingered Jan and Colin have been doing voluntary weekly shifts at Queen Mary's Hospital for Children to transform the open space near the entrance.
The retired pair said they enjoy what they do and are delighted youngsters and their families enjoy the garden and receive impromptu botany lessons too.
Jan said: “We started volunteering here last August and love it.
“When the sun is out children will come and help us. They also learn about different flowers and plants and love watering them. All our lovely coloured pebbles are down to the kids painting them.
“It’s so much fun and it’s lovely to see their happy faces as they play. They enjoy playing here and we enjoy it too.
“It’s also nice when the doctors and nurses and other staff walk by and say how lovely the garden is.”
The first week in June is Volunteers' Week which celebrates the contributions volunteers make to the NHS, the voluntary sector, local communities and society as a whole.
Generous Jan and Colin are two of 60 volunteers at Epsom and St Helier who give up their free time to help others.
The couple have also managed to persuade local garden centres and businesses to donate items which has helped keep the costs of the makeover down.
“All the garden centres around here know me,” Jan laughed.
“They have been very generous but we are always after more gardening things. If there’s anyone out there who would like to donate something it is always appreciated.”
Colin added: “I do all the boring bits but I really enjoy it - when I see the children happily play here it makes it all worthwhile.” If you would like to donate items for the garden please email s.crorken@nhs.net.
For more information about volunteering at our hospitals visit https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/volunteer
