The gardeners at the Royal United Hospital are celebrating a ‘first prize’ win in this year’s Bath in Bloom competition.
Following the judges’ visit to the hospital’s flourishing courtyard gardens, and an inspection of the gorgeous planters at the main entrance, the Friends of the RUH volunteer gardeners were awarded a prize for the best horticultural achievement by a community group.
Their green fingered skills range from general maintenance to major renovations. Over the last three years, the gardening team has transformed 20 courtyard gardens across the hospital, including the Four Seasons Garden and the Jubilee Garden. Over the next 12 months they aim to renovate the gardens next to the Emergency Department and Oncology.
They can be seen working most Wednesday mornings and some weekends, carrying out the multitude of tasks involved in keeping the hospital gardens looking beautiful throughout the year.
The team, lead by Jane Rymer, was presented with a magnificent cup at a ceremony in the Guildhall. Jane said: “We tend the gardens so that they offer patients, visitors and staff a haven of peace and tranquillity. We are always so chuffed when people look in and say how much they appreciate the gardens, and we are grateful to staff and the Friends of the RUH volunteers for all their support.
“We are so honoured to receive this prestigious award from the Bath in Bloom Committee, it’s a great privilege.“
In addition to being volunteer gardeners, Jane and her husband Bernard organise the annual Weston Village Flower Show, and the Weston Village Open Garden event. They also run the Weston Village Gardening Club. For their hard work, Jane and Bernard were presented with a special award for horticultural achievement from the Chairman of Bath in Bloom.
