Patients and their families at St Michael’s Hospice will be able to enjoy relaxing walks through tranquil gardens thanks to a generous donation from Tarmac.
The UK’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions business provided much of the materials needed to build pathways through the gardens at the hospice in Hereford, where different themes provide further respite to patients and their visiting loved ones.
Mike Weaver, head of facilities at St Michael’s Hospice, said: “What Tarmac has done for us is absolutely fantastic and has enabled us to widen paths in our lower gardens which were previously inaccessible to patients. Now they can be used all-year-round.”
Tarmac supplied 80 tonnes of AC Dense Binder [for the underbase] and 46 tonnes of buff Ulticolour asphalt. A team from Dolyhir & Strinds Quarry, spent three days helping to prepare and resurface more than 600m2 of garden paths.
“It has made a huge difference and means a lot to our patients and their families,” added Mr Weaver.
“We are a 20-bed hospice and have a lot of day-patients many of whom are confined to wheelchairs. Without the paths, they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors and that contributes massively to their wellbeing in often challenging circumstances.
“Our vision for St Michael’s Hospice garden has always been based on the premise that it should be enjoyed by everyone. The installation of widened reshaped pathways enables those with limited mobility the opportunity to enjoy our tranquil green space.
“The paths complement the hard work already done by our volunteer gardeners led by Steve Flack to create ‘gardens within a garden’, where each section has a different theme, such as tranquillity, texture and fragrance.”
Stephen Grumbach, operations manager at Dolyhir & Strinds Quarry, said: “It is rewarding to see the difference we have been able to make to patients at the hospice. We are honoured to have been able to help create areas of beauty that enable them and their families to take in the fresh air during difficult moments in their lives.
“We have carried out work in the hospice previously as it is our local hospice and are happy to support where we can.”
