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The Martlets Hospice Garden TeamThe Martlets Hospice opened in April 1997 with the building having been constructed, fitted and furnished in the preceding year. The Palliative Care patients cared for at Coppercliff Hospice and The Tarner Home were transferred to the new Martlets Hospice, together with their staff, so that skilled nursing was not interrupted.
Sir Austin Pierce was chairman of the board at this time, and Dr. Shirley Murrell was one of the directors. She suggested that in order to save money that we should try running the garden with volunteer helpers and offered to organise this, as she had recently retired.
The garden was originally designed by Hillier’s of Southampton and planted to their design. Gradually a team of volunteers was formed and in many instances a part of the garden became the particular area of interest for a person, Judy Beacock who cared for the courtyard flower beds, and Brian and Sue Webber who cared for the flower beds at the top of the slope on the north side from the beginning still continue to do so. Alan Bennett gave the water feature with the granite pillers in the courtyard, and has continued to be involved particularly in our entries into the National Garden Scheme. Later Susan Davies took on the entrance beds and Anne Moncrieff designed and planted the west bed behind the Camelia “Susan” for many years. Over the last 12 years we have had many volunteers, some knowledgeable in horticulture and some wanting to be but happy to participate in what was happening in certain areas. Some have moved to a flat in Brighton or Hove and want to be continuing with a garden.
We have found that many of the hospice staff like to have the gardens in their working environment and comment on what is happening. Jenny Musther, who was Nursing Manager, said the she had never thought about gardens but came to notice what was flowering in each season here and what a new pleasure this was to her when she arrived at work.
Feedback from patients occurs frequently. There are those who when an in-patient like to take a walk or be wheeled around by a friend or relative and stop to discuss what a gardener is doing with them. It seems a welcome distraction from their illness. Sometimes they want to know the name of a plant, or whether we would like one from them for the garden. At other times they want to sit in the garden and have refreshments from The Orangery with their visitors, or just find a quiet corner in which to chat to them. A rose bower was donated for privacy and then Judy applied for a Millennium grant which she used to construct the shelter and surrounding planting in the courtyard. More recently two areas have been refurbished on the top of the north bank where seats are place for three or four people. Some folk feel happy near the earth and plants, and we even had one patient request that she should die in her bed in the garden. She lay there quietly with a nurse or her relatives beside her.
There is some work, such as hedge trimming, particularly this year when the greater rainfall has caused quick growth of all our mature shrubs, when heavier work is needed. We are grateful for those more vigorous volunteers who tackle this and also several working parties from different firms who have been on a days community service and bonding exercise. They like to take on a definite clearance job which they can achieve in a session and which a fit but not necessarily skilled gardener can attempt.
The most recent re-designing of the garden was of the bed to the left of the main entrance. Lorna Michie who had been a volunteer with us for many years designed this and when her own health failed she purchased the plants and we planted them in her memory.
Our next area is to work on the top of the bank beneath the sycamore tree. I hope that will be re-turfed and bulbs put in this autumn. We have already received donations towards the expenses involved.
Each year we have a Garden Opening to help to raise funds for the Martlets \Hospice and its Garden Fund. We meet old friends as well as welcoming new ones on these occasions. Plants are sold and teas offered.
There is always a need for new volunteer gardeners to replace those who find they need to retire, and our Volunteer Organisers do good work in introducing any applicants to the Martlets Hospice.
Shirley Murrell 14.9.09
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Glorious Gardens Appeal
Are you proud of your garden?
Would you like to show it off and help the Hospice?
We're looking for green fingered supporters to open their gardens for us this summer.
Contact Antonia to discuss it
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