Garden in Bloom: Celebrating our volunteers this Volunteers' Week

Revisiting the garden transformed by our volunteers 

Six months ago, a remarkable transformation unfolded at Peasley Cross Hospital in St Helens. Local businesses including GRAHAM, A&B Engineering, Braniff Joinery and Chroda came together with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust  staff and volunteers as well as students from St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic High School to give a glow up to the hospital's "secret garden".

Now, as spring breathes new life into the garden used by service users, patients and staff, the fruits of their labour are in full bloom! Once-overgrown areas are tamed and tidy, while vibrant flowers, strategically planted have broken through the earth and dance in the breeze. The freshly painted benches offer a quiet place to take a moment away from the hospital environment, and handcrafted planters and raised beds are filled with plants and produce. The orchard, enhanced with a new water feature and a memorial apple tree, offers a shaded place for peaceful reflection. 

The garden's revitalisation means a lot to the hospital community. Patients from the wards, as well as members of the St Helens Recovery Team Gardening Group are able to use the space regularly, and staff can also enjoy the tranquility when taking a break from the wards. The addition of electricity to the polytunnel, generously provided by A&B Engineering, has enabled year-round gardening activities for the regular volunteers which further support mental health and recovery.

You can see some before and after photos at the bottom of this article.

Thank you to our amazing volunteers

This Volunteers' Week, we're sending a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has given their time and energy to support Mersey Cares — in whatever way you’ve contributed, we are truly grateful.

 A special mention goes to our amazing Charity Champions — dedicated members of the Mersey Care workforce who act as internal ambassadors; raising awareness, promoting fundraising, and championing our cause across wards, services, and communities.

Your support makes a real difference, and we couldn’t do it without you.

Can you be a Mersey Cares volunteer?

For more information on volunteering opportunities to support our mental health and community services, please get in touch as we'd love to hear from you. Please drop us an email: charity@merseycare.nhs.uk or select the button below.