In a week when medals are being presented to all kinds of gardens at RHS Chelsea, our Stoke Mandeville sanctuary is in the midst of its own celebration having been awarded a Gold Medal for Best Community Garden in Aylesbury!
Head Gardener Amy Moffett and our brilliant volunteers were thrilled to hear the news, whilst everyone at the charity was equally delighted to see their talent and dedication acknowledged too.
With the highest scoring garden, Amy was given a rather beautiful (and large!) trophy, which she happily accepted on everyone’s behalf. It’s now being safely showcased in one of the cabinets in the garden room, with its arrival prompting a great deal of celebratory chat amongst patients, NHS staff and, of course, all our fantastic volunteers.
Whilst it may have been a challenging year, this hasn’t stopped the team in Stoke Mandeville from coming together however they could to continue making an enormous difference to lots of people’s lives. Many have consistently tended the garden, diligently developing the ever more established planting, whilst others are always popping in with plenty of homemade cake to replenish the supply for patients and their loved ones.
All their efforts are much appreciated by those spending time in the centre and those who visit. As one patient recently shared:
To Amy and all the volunteers,
Thank you for all that you do. I have enjoyed the wonderful garden and the beautiful garden room. I have spent many hours here chatting with friends, their visitors and the lovely volunteers. I can honestly say that Horatio’s Garden has helped my recovery, keeping me sane and supplying an essential relief from the hospital environment. I have enjoyed the cakes, fresh produce and most of all the conversations.
Please keep volunteering and running the garden room and garden. You have no idea what a difference you make to the patients and their families’ lives.
Thank you, I will remember this place forever.
We wish Amy and every single member of the team huge congratulations and as this quote and countless others will attest, they are all most definitely deserving of their award.
