Winchester Hospice
Chelsea Gold Medal winning Hospice Garden
Nature plays a very important part of the care provided by the Hospice and Hospice staff were delighted to be approached by The Bible Society when it offered to donate it’s award-winning ‘Psalm 23’ Garden, designed by Sarah Eberle, to the site. The garden won a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, also winning Best Sanctuary Garden and Best Construction for its class. It brings the famous text of 'The Lord is my Shepherd' to life through green pastures and still waters.
Winchester Hospice recognises how important it is to have a space where patients can get outside to enjoy nature, relax, hear the soothing sound of water, and experience the wildlife that encapsulates the landscape, whilst they are being cared for within the Hospice. It provides patients, their families and the staff with a place to reflect, be still and pause.
Funds were donated to transport the garden from Chelsea Flower Show, prepare the site and install it at the Hospice. This took seven-weeks, starting with a crane transporting gabbro rocks, originally from Scotland, on to the Hospice grounds, as well as setting three mature trees in place.
During the installation, Professor Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Bible Society, commented that he could not think of a better place for a garden that “has provoked in so many people a sense of peace, tranquillity and restoration of the soul”.