A care home resident rolled up her sleeves to help maintain the garden at Winchester Hospice in a bid to give patients and their loved ones a more inviting outdoor space.
Elcia Ballantyne, who lives at Colten Care’s Abbotts Barton, was among a ‘hit squad’ of team members from the Worthy Road home equipped with gardening tools and gloves.
Together they spent time weeding, pruning roses and shrubs, clearing autumn leaves and freshening up the hospice grounds.
Elcia enthusiastically joined in while keeping a watchful eye on the team, even supervising the Mayor of Winchester, Jamie Scott, who came along to help.
Elcia said: “The work of the hospice is so important and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to help, plus I enjoyed being foreman!”
As well as Elcia, the Abbotts Barton team comprised gardener Gary Morris, Companionship Team Leader Sarah Kingston and Customer Support Advisor Jessica Barrett.
Sarah explained that the hospice is Abbotts Barton’s charity of the year, adding: “We wanted to do something that would make a real difference.
“The garden is such a valuable space for people to enjoy some fresh air and spend precious time with their loved ones, so being able to help keep it looking its best felt like a very worthwhile thing to do.
“The hospice means a great deal to people in the community and we know how valuable that care can be, so we were delighted to give something back through our time and practical help.”
As well as the on-the-ground pruning, weeding and tidying. Gary took to a ladder to jet-wash the garden’s glass canopy, removing green algae and helping to brighten the space.
Complementing the hit squad’s practical help, Abbotts Barton is supporting the hospice through various fundraising efforts that contribute towards its running costs.
The garden itself has a special history, having been donated by Hillier Garden Centres and winning a prize at the 2021 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Stephanie Walker, from Winchester Hospice, praised the Abbotts Barton team.
“A huge thank you for all your help and support,” she said. “The garden is looking fantastic and is a great spot for our patients and their loved ones to relax in thanks to all your efforts.”
