Hospice UK and the National Garden Scheme will share the joy of sunflowers across the country in the build-up to, and during, Gardens and Health Week (13-21 May).
The project
#HereComeTheSunflowers is one of the latest ways that the National Garden Scheme is working with Hospice UK to support end of life care - this time by sharing thousands of sunflower seeds from West Horsley Place with local hospices across the country.
The project will see sunflower seeds distributed to over 200 hospices, to plant in their gardens, which are often important spaces for reflection, therapy, peace and quiet.
Kate Redding, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Hospice UK (pictured above, left) said:
“Thanks to this project alongside the National Garden Scheme, we’ll be able to share the joy of sunflowers to our member hospices.
“Hospice gardens are incredibly important and can provide a peaceful place for mindfulness and to reflect – not only for staff, but for patients and their loved ones too.
“We’re all excited to see how the sunflowers grow and spread joy throughout hospices across the country.”
Top tips for growing sunflowers
Watch West Horsley Place Estate Manager Matt Link (pictured above, centre) as he shares his top tips of growing sunflowers from seed.
[click image to play video]
George Plumptre, Chief Executive, National Garden Scheme said:
“A great partnership relies on strong personal relationships, some hard work and heaps of creativity.
“The sunflower seed project brings all those elements together and the wonderful connectivity between ourselves, Hospice UK and a garden that opens for us.
“Sharing sunflower seeds from West Horsley Place across the hospice network literally sows the seeds of a great campaign to bring gardens, gardening and the joy of green spaces to a wider audience, an aim that is very much at the heart of the National Garden Scheme.”
#HereComeTheSunflowers
Hospice UK and the National Garden Scheme will share regular updates from the hospices growing the sunflowers on social media, using the #HereComeTheSunflowers.
The National Garden Scheme
The National Garden Scheme is the largest funder of our work. They have donated more than £6.5million in support of hospice care since 1996.
Read more about our work together