The Greenfingers Charity has returned to Helen & Douglas House in Oxford, reigniting a special partnership that in 2017 saw the creation of the stunning Kaleidoscope Garden. This year, the charity has once again joined forces with the hospice team for a series of volunteer days, coinciding with Greenfingers’ biggest annual fundraising event – Garden Re-Leaf Day – which took place on Friday, 21st March.

The volunteer days aimed to refresh and revitalise the much-loved Kaleidoscope Garden, ensuring it remains a beautiful and peaceful space for children, families, and hospice staff. Leading these efforts were corporate volunteers from Abingdon-based garden product manufacturer, Smart Garden Products, long-standing supporters of Greenfingers Charity and the hospices it serves.

Two teams from Smart Garden Products generously volunteered their time. The first group were on-site on Garden Re-Leaf Day itself on 21st March, while the second team rolled up their sleeves on Friday 28th March (photos are from this day), working under the supervision of the Helen & Douglas House gardening team to give the garden a much-needed spring tidy-up.

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers Charity, said: “Helen & Douglas House holds a special place in the history of Greenfingers Charity, and we are thrilled to return to the Kaleidoscope Garden with the incredible support of Smart Garden Products and our dedicated volunteers. These gardens provide vital outdoor spaces for children and families, and it’s wonderful to see so many people come together to help ensure they remain uplifting and inspiring places.”

Jo Spillane from Helen & Douglas House added: “The Kaleidoscope Garden has been a cherished space for our families and staff since it was created, and we are so grateful to Greenfingers Charity and Smart Garden Products for their continued support. These volunteer days are not just about maintaining the garden; they’re about creating moments of joy and peace for those who spend time here.

“As well as the children enjoying sensory experiences, the peaceful garden can also be a tranquil haven for parents to reflect. Whether it is sitting on one of the gardens various benches with family to calm themselves after a busy day or restless night or discovering areas that have strategic planting in a secluded corner to enable them to sit by themselves, there is opportunity for all to enjoy this outside space.”

Hannah Jones, Nursery Nurse at Helen & Douglas House said “Our garden is such a magical place. We are lucky to have such a fantastic place to be able to take the children out and enjoy the sunshine.

“Our children love being out in the garden smelling the different flowers and listening to the trees in the wind. They have fun watering the flowers and grass and love to relax near the new water features. It is amazing having such a safe and beautiful garden right on our doorstep to read stories, play football, or just relax in the sun with the children and their families is just incredible."

Find out more

To find out more about Greenfingers Charity, and how to get involved in a range of fundraising events please visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk. You can also join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media - https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

You can also find out more about the many ways Helen & Douglas House support local families to cope with the challenges of looking after a terminally ill baby or child by visiting www.helenanddouglas.org.uk