A hospice is looking for green-fingered volunteers to help maintain its gardens.

Havens Hospices is calling on those who enjoy gardening to join its Garden Club and tend to its six acres of greenspace at Little Havens as well as its newly-landscaped gardens at Fair Havens.

With the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions, families have been visiting the gardens at both centres.

Covid-19 has resulted in charities such as Havens missing out on vital funds over the course of the last 14 months.

A host of Havens’ scheduled fundraisers were forced to be postponed due to government regulations and Faye Kadesh, the charity’s volunteer services manager, hopes members of the community will choose to show their support by maintaining their greenspace and, in turn, boost their own health and wellbeing in the midst of global pandemic.

She said: “Volunteering is an ideal way to share the skills you have or learn new ones.

“Not only is it diverse and rewarding, but by playing a role in the local community, volunteering can become a fulfilling part of people’s lives and lead to new opportunities and friendships.

“Not only is gardening good for your wellbeing but evidence also suggests that volunteering has a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

Read more:

“Whether you can offer a spare hour or ten hours a week, it all makes a huge difference to hospice.”

The coronavirus crisis has resulted in less people being able to head into Little Havens and Fair Havens’ gardens, but Faye hopes numbers will increase significantly thanks to the selfless work of Garden Club volunteers.

She added: “It’s because of the volunteers who work hard in the hospice gardens that families are able to get outside, have fun and spend some quality time together.

“Our hospice care can only exist because of the support and generosity of our volunteers, including those in our Garden Club. Their amazing work is crucial so we can continue to provide our hospice care.”

Havens has continued to provide palliative nursing and supportive care to children, young people, adults and their families during the pandemic.

To join the Garden Club, visit havenshospices.org.uk/volunteering/apply-to-volunteer.