St Luke’s volunteers harvest three awards for our beautiful gardens

St Luke’s Hospice has won three awards at this year’s London Gardens Society Trophy Presentation Evening, recognising the hard work of our gardening volunteers.

The gardens at St Luke’s Kenton Grange have long been a haven of peace and beauty for patients and families, offering a place to enjoy nature and find comfort during difficult times.

The hospice received Gold for its Large Garden, Silver for its Small Garden and Silver for its patio, container and hanging basket displays.

Volunteer gardener Jacki Baker represented St Luke’s at the awards ceremony on Friday 16 October at the Guildhall in the City of London.

Jacki, who has volunteered since January 2015, said the hospice has won awards every year since she joined. “Looking at the certificates from before I joined, I think the hospice’s success in these awards probably goes back more than two decades.”

This year’s awards were particularly welcome after a difficult summer. “This year has been extremely difficult, particularly because of the lack of water,” Jacki said. “Despite the challenges, the volunteers have worked incredibly hard to keep the gardens looking their best.”

Around 20 gardening volunteers help care for the grounds throughout the year, giving whatever time they can.

For Jacki, the gardens mean much more than awards. “Families often spend time in the gardens when they need a moment away. You see people walking around, taking in the surroundings and finding a little peace. Knowing the gardens can provide that comfort means a great deal to us.”

Jacki was proud to collect the awards on behalf of the team. “It’s always an honour to represent the hospice and accept these awards on behalf of all the volunteers who help care for the gardens throughout the year. Seeing patients and families enjoy the space is all the thanks we need.”

The team would welcome more volunteers. Jacki said: “We’re always pleased to hear from anyone who enjoys gardening and can spare a few hours. We’d love to welcome more volunteers to help us care for these special spaces.”

Please visit our volunteering page to discover more about how you can become a volunteer at St Luke’s.