Meet the team who are turning donations into a thriving QMC garden!

A small team of passionate volunteers are helping to keep the green spaces at Queen's Medical Centre looking their best, and with support from Nottingham Hospitals Charity, they are now preparing the much-loved Tranquillity Garden for a seasonal refresh.

The group is led by Andy and Beth, both professional gardeners, who volunteer their time alongside five others and visit every couple of months. Their work includes planting, weeding, pruning, tidying and litter picking. The garden is a green space used every day by patients, visitors and staff, offering a quiet moment away from busy wards and waiting rooms.

Andy, volunteer and owner of Sherwood Wildlife Gardens, has been part of the garden since it was first created.

“I’ve been coming here since the garden was built. We look after it, we weed, we tend to the plants. We recently did a fundraising push for new plants which we will be putting in over the next few weeks.

“We come every couple of months as a team of seven and getting the feedback from staff, visitors and patients about how important it is as a green space for people.”

Beth, owner of Beth the Gardener, gardening business, recently led a fundraising effort with the volunteers and through plant sales, raffles and donations, funds were raised for Nottingham Hospitals Charity to support new planting as part of the refresh.

For Andy and many of the team, the connection to QMC is personal.

Beth Danks (back) planting new plants in the garden

“I got involved as I had a period of ill health and was cared for by the endocrinology team here at QMC. I also work in horticulture so saw a real opportunity to come and give back to the hospital - a small thanks for the care I received.

"A lot of us have similar stories too and have links to the hospital and gardens either through families or ourselves so it’s a wonderful opportunity to give back.”

Originally designed by Jo Thompson with support from The 11 Foundation, the Tranquillity Garden, now in its 6th year, has grown into a valued part of hospital life over the past five years.

The refresh has introduced new plants to bring colour and resilience throughout the seasons, as well as much needed tools to help volunteers continue to care for a space that means so much to so many.

Every donation made through Nottingham Hospitals Charity helps make this possible.

It supports not just the garden, but the people behind it.