Beneficiaries
Sunny Times
Young lives are to benefit after our Sunshine Fund charity made a £30,000 donation. We awarded the cash to St Oswald’s hospice in Gosforth, Newcastle, to go towards a new £54,000 garden.
The money has paid for, among other things, the centrepiece of the garden, a giant Lambton Worm, that can be used by the children. The Duchess of Northumberland was today visiting St Oswald’s to officially open the sensory garden. It is one of four new gardens being unveiled with the others, a quiet garden, a woodland garden and an east wing garden. Nikki Wilkinson, communications manager at St Oswald’s, said: “We are delighted that Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland, has taken time out to officially open our new gardens.
“We are also extremely grateful to the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund and to Thompson’s of Prudhoe Environmental Trust for their generous donations, which have made the landscaping of our gardens possible. “Local children and families who use our service will be able to benefit from our garden areas whether they wish to play, to chat or simply to relax and reflect.
“Invoking tales of the Lambton Worm, Nessie and Woodland Giants, our gardens will undoubtedly capture the imagination of our ver special, younger audience.” Sunshine Fund manager Jo Harris said: “On Behalf of the Chronicle and the Sunshine Fund I would like to say we are delighted St Oswald’s and the children it cares for is to benefit from this fantastic facility. “Our cause is to make dramatic improvements to the lives of North East children who are battling serious illness or living with a disability and there can be no doubt that this facility meets those criteria.
“We are only the intermediaries doing this on behalf of Chronicle readers and local businesses and I know they will be delighted that all their efforts to raise thousands of pounds each year is going to such a fantastic creation which is brightening up children’s lives.”
The Lambton Worm sculpture comes complete with flashing eyes and lighting effects. There is also a wide range of planting set within a paved area for easy wheelchair access. Floor panels will be triggered by movement to send out coloured lights and the range of plants will give children a range of experiences.
The Woodland Garden also includes a huge ‘Nessie’ metal structure, and a Giant’s table and chair, complete with a giant bowl and goblet. St Oswald’s provides specialist short breaks to North East children with life-shortening conditions.
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