A GARDEN make-over is underway at Grove House – thanks to the St Albans regional sales office of Skandia. The team from Skandia gave over a work day as well as some of their personal time last week to complete part of the project to rejuvenate the gardens

A GARDEN make-over is underway at Grove House - thanks to the St Albans regional sales office of Skandia.

The team from Skandia gave over a work day as well as some of their personal time last week to complete part of the project to rejuvenate the gardens and area surrounding the hospice in the grounds of St Albans City Hospital.

The Skandia team will be helping a to redevelop six key zones within the gardens of the hospice, including landscaping several areas that have become overgrown and neglected as a result of recent building work.

They will also create a "garden escape" for patients and staff to enjoy and will redevelop a car park to provide a number of free spaces.

The project is part of a larger initiative called The Power to Change the Future Community Challenge run by Skandia, one of the UK's leading long-term savings groups.

Alison Wilcox, supervisor at Skandia's St Albans sales office, said: "We know that Grove House relies heavily on volunteers to help with a range of services including the upkeep of the garden.

"We hope that our team can provide a much-needed tidy-up but most importantly we're hoping to create a "garden escape" where both patients and staff can go to relax, reflect and rejuvenate. We're so excited about partnering with the hospice on a project that will leave a lasting mark on the community."

Grove House representative Louise Miller added: "We are very grateful to the team from Skandia for the time they are giving us. The garden area is a very important part of the hospice and can be an oasis of calm for patients and staff alike."

In the past four months Grove House has supported over 500 patients and carers whose lives are affected by cancer and life-threatening illness.

All services are free of charge and each patient's care is tailored to their own needs from pain control to improving mobility, spiritual care and emotional support. Grove House also provides support and counselling for the carers and families of patients.