THE NEW Tavistock Hospital Garden opened last weekend with a well attended ceremony and plenty of tea and cakes.
The Golden Jubilee Garden was officially opened on Sunday, July 6, by Tavistock?s Preb Rawlings and was attended by many members of staff and patients.
Jenny Base, garden coordinator, said: ?The weather was very good to us and we had a smashing day. Thankfully a lot of people attended because we had a really good spread of cakes and scones provided by hospital staff and I was worried they?d get left.
?The Matron, Jan Summers, and Preb Rawlings both said some really lovely things, as did Sally Foxhall, chairman of the South Hams and West Devon Primary Care Trust.?
The garden project began last year as a way of commemorating the Queen?s Golden Jubilee and making the garden a more patient friendly and accessible place.
A £5000 lottery grant and various fund-raising events organised by staff, including a bed push through Tavistock, raised the £15,000 needed for the garden?s renovation. Plans eventually went into action in April this year after planning proposals were approved.
The garden is currently in full bloom, and features many fragrant plants, as well as a patio area, stair-lift and ramp access.
Organisers now hope to start a second phase to develop other sections of the garden and increase safety and access, and to continue work in the area.
The garden was due to have been opened by the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, but plans were changed after the sad death last month of the Duke.