Work starts to transform children's hospice garden

Work has started on a £200,000 project to transform the garden at a children's hospice.

The improvements to the outdoor space at Acorns Children's Hospice on Walstead Road, Walsall, follow a change in fortunes for the facility after it was saved from closure in 2021.

The project, which has been funded by Greenfingers, a charity that creates gardens for children in hospices across the UK, includes the addition of a sunken trampoline, a basket swing and outdoor musical instruments.

Every bedroom in the hospice will look out on to the new garden to help families create "lasting memories together".

The facility cares for more than 230 children every year.

Matron Carmel Caldicott said despite "every child deserving the joy of outdoor play", it was not always possible for patients and families supported by the hospice to access a park.

But she said that was why "every aspect of the new garden has been designed with our children and their families in mind to create a magical space where they can laugh, explore and make cherished memories together".

She added: "It will be a place for fairy tales, curiosity and exploration, with a sensory space for discovery, and a sanctuary where children and families can enjoy precious time together."

It is not yet known when the work will be completed.

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