Gardening volunteers are awarded for 25 years’ service
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wo volunteers have been celebrated for each dedicating 25 years to maintaining the gardens at Primrose Hospice.
Millie Harries and Linda Babb were presented with a cer tificate and bouquets of flowers to thank them for their hard work and dedication to the Bromsgrove charity before lockdown. From planting the flower beds to organising other volunteers, the pair have made sure the hospice’s gardens are in tip-top condition all year round. They began volunteering after reading a plea for help in a local newspaper in 1995. The pair, who originally met as teachers in Birmingham and worked together for 40 years, explained what keeps them motivated. Millie, from Marlbrook, said: “We felt that if you came here and saw dead leaves and plants that would be depressing.” “It is such a peaceful garden and people appreciate what we do,” added Linda, from Cofton Hackett. Over the years, the garden has changed dramatically having originally featured a piggery and vegetable garden. Now maintained by ten volunteers, it boasts a pond and a children’s sensory garden.
10 Completely Bromsgrove
Jo Wright, volunteers’ manager, thanked the pair for their many years of service. “We’re so grateful to them and our team of almost 400 volunteers who give up their time to support the hospice. We couldn’t do what we do without them,” said Jo. David Burrell, Primrose Hospice chief executive, said: “Between them Millie and Linda have given Primrose an incredible 2,000 days of volunteering. “Primrose’s gardens offer an oasis of calm for our patients and the families we support. It really makes a difference to be able to sit or wander around and have a moment to relax in beautiful surroundings. “We receive so many lovely comments about how well kept the gardens are and this is down to Linda, Millie and the wonderful team of volunteers who work so hard in all kinds of weather to maintain them.”
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