Green-fingered volunteers transforming entrance to Wrexham Maelor Hospital

A team of green fingered gardeners have joined together to spruce up the entrance to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

The recently established group of Wrexham Community Gardeners received funding from the Police and Community Tract (PACT) to help renovate and plant the green areas around the three principal entrances to the hospital – the Main Entrance, Emergency Department Entrance and Entrance B.

It is hoped that this will help to create a calming environment for patients, visitors and staff.

The group’s chair Ruth Tesdale said: “I cannot overstate what a watershed moment this was for us. The efforts of everyone involved culminated in a day of community.

“I know it had been a long and difficult journey for everyone but on Saturday to see the smiles on the faces of the volunteers and to see their sense of pride in their achievements made all that effort worthwhile.

“There is of course lots of work to be done but this beginning is promising.

“Our garden designer, Stuart Francis, from Garden Wilding, has an amazing vision for the gardens which allows us to create beautiful spaces in harmony with nature and incorporating all that is good in those gardens already.

“I’d like to thank all of our volunteers and we look forward to collaborating to make the Wrexham Maelor Hospital a place we may all take increasingly pride in, as it becomes an example of how communities and statutory bodies might collaborate for the benefit of everyone.”

Ian Donnelly, East Integrated Health Community Operations Director, said: “We are delighted that the group has chosen to help improve our green spaces at the hospital.

“The group has worked closely with our estates, security and management to identify areas that needed improvement to create a better first impression and welcome to the site.”

“On behalf of all our staff we’d like to thank every volunteer that has got their hands dirty and supported the group, as well as for the funding from the Police and Community Tract (PACT).

“We can already see such an improvement and we look forward to see further changes on the grounds which help will create a calmer and more attractive arrival for all.”

The community group is open for people to join them, if you would like more information visit www.wrexhamcommunitygardeners.org.