Published on 3rd June, 2019
Dorothy House Hospice Care was awarded Gold in the pop-up gardens competition at the Royal Bath & West Show on Wednesday (29 May).
The garden was divided into quarters, symbolising four therapy areas available at Dorothy House including physiotherapy, creative arts activities, complementary therapies and occupational therapies.
The display featured a vintage bike to represent the Dorothy House gym and staying active; ceramic poppies made by the allotment group members; and knitted vegetables, bees and butterflies made by the sewing bee group. Herbs and sensory plants represented the complementary therapies and the vegetable plot represented occupational therapies like the cook, share, eat group.
“This garden has been an exciting collaboration between hospice staff, volunteers, patients and family members from our support groups,” said occupational therapist Lucy Burley, who led the project. “The garden is a great opportunity for us to share the message about our therapy services.”
Dorothy House patient Jane Tuckwell explained how important gardening has been to her rehabilitation. “I was referred to the allotment group and thought I would hate it but gave it a try. I never thought I’d laugh again but I love the group and laugh all the time. I like being able to be myself and being with people who really understand.”
Left to right: Bill Aven, allotment group member; Debbie Wait, assistant physiotherapist at Dorothy House; Sir Rupert Dewey-Bart, Dorothy House ambassador; Jane Tuckwell, patient; Lucy Burley, occupational therapist; John Davies, CEO at Dorothy House and Roger Timbrell, an allotment group member.