Stunning snowdrops will create a memorable celebration garden in the county next month.
St Richard’s Hospice will plant hundreds of handcrafted snowdrops on the lawns around The Hive, Worcester, this August.
The unique display, featuring the hospice’s floral emblem, comes in the charity’s fortieth year caring for patients and loved ones across Worcestershire.
People are being encouraged to celebrate someone or something special with one of the snowdrops in the display, which they can later take home as a keepsake or a gift. Each snowdrop is uniquely commissioned by Ed Alvis, of Metal Art UK, at his workshop near Evesham.
The flowers will be installed on Friday, 9 August and will be on display until Monday, 26 August.
Contributions to help create this installation will help fund St Richard’s care of patients, their loved ones and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
Emily Gicquel, from Kidderminster, will be dedicating a snowdrop to her mum who was cared for by St Richard’s five years ago.
Ms Gicquel said: “When my mum spent her last five days at St Richard’s myself and my children, Olivia and James, learned what a good death looked like. We found a place where an amazing team makes magical memories every day and we made a promise to ourselves that we’d help make sure that care continues for others.
“That’s why we support Celebration Garden each year because, as well as being able to remember and celebrate our precious mum and nan, we’re also helping the hospice put its arms around more people like us.”
“It’s always really moving when you see all the sculptures together and realise that hundreds of local people are all united in celebrating someone special. After the display, our snowdrop will join our collection of St Richard’s sculptures in our own garden as a tribute to mum and the care she received.”
Hospice campaigns fundraiser, Laura Clarke, said: “Our 2024 Celebration Garden will once again create a memorable focal point for celebration and reflection in the heart of the city.
“Snowdrops are very special to us at the hospice because of the hope that they symbolise when they break ground each year, reminding us that brighter days are coming. In our fortieth anniversary year it felt right that this year’s sculpture was a snowdrop and we know they’ll look lovely alongside sunflowers, butterflies and bees from previous years.”
Donors will be invited to pick a snowdrop from The Hive gardens at the end of the display, collect from the hospice or receive via post after the installation is dismantled.
To secure a snowdrop please visit https://www.strichards.org.uk/celebration-garden/ or call the Fundraising Team on 01905 763963.
The Celebration Garden campaign is kindly sponsored by Blue Print Direct Mail Limited, with the garden at The Hive sponsored by Jackson Family Funeral Directors.
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity offering free, expert care for adults with an illness that cannot be cured, and support for their loved ones and carers.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,100 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
It will cost in the region of £12m to run the hospice this year, which includes patient care and all the necessary support services.
St Richard’s relies on voluntary support, including from donations, gifts in Wills, retail and events for the majority of its income with the remainder funded by the NHS.