St Margaret’s Hospice wants more gardens open to the public by the 2025 anniversary year

GARDENS, which were opened to the public in the Wellington and West Somerset areas last spring and summer, have helped raise more than £32,000 for St Margaret’s Hospice.

The Glorious Gardens event proved to be the year’s second biggest fundraiser after the charity’s annual color event and demonstrated the depth of support from local communities.

A total of 61 garden openings were held at 22 locations across Somerset, raising £32,012 to support the work of St Margaret’s Hospice.

This figure includes sponsorship from Greenslade estate agent and auctioneer Taylor Hunt and others.

Hospice Community Fundraising Manager Kerry Bailey said: “We are delighted with the success of Glorious Gardens 2024 and want to thank everyone who helped make this possible, from those who generously opened their gardens to every visitor who contributed.

“The funds raised will go a long way in supporting the care we provide in Somerset and we are very grateful for the community’s continued support.

“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who opened their gardens to the public, and to the Somerset community who visited, made donations and enjoyed tea, cakes and other refreshments in the beautiful green spaces.”

Ms Bailey said that in the run-up to 2025, St Margaret’s is encouraging the community to take part in the Glorious Gardens event again next summer as the hospice celebrates 45 years of providing free end of life care to Somerset residents.

She said the goal is to have more than 100 gardens by 2025, making it the charity’s largest effort to date.

St Margaret’s Hospice’s own gardens offer peace and comfort to patients and their families, and Ms Bailey said the outdoor space could bring the same joy to visitors across the county.

Anyone interested in taking part can register via the website here, call Ms Bailey on 01935 709496 or email. (email protected).

The community-funded hospice, supported by around 800 volunteers, cared for 4,833 people in Somerset last year, most of whom were cared for in their own homes by one of five local nursing teams.