A NEW wildlife garden is poised for planting at a Yorkshire children’s hospice - thanks to a green-fingered partnership being cultivated by two businesses.
Linley & Simpson, the residential sales and letting agent with 11 branches across North and West Yorkshire, has selected Martin House at Boston Spa, near Wetherby, as its charity of the year.
Now it has linked up with one of its gardening suppliers, Nick Palmer of Harrogate-based company The Garden Keeper, to create a thriving habitat for declining species, such as butterflies, bees and hedgehogs, in a quiet area of spare land nestling in the picturesque grounds of the hospice.
Nick approached the company offering to plant something in a location of its choice for every job he completed – and both agreed that Martin House would be the deserving good cause.
As part of the initiative, Nick will now work alongside the charity’s maintenance manager, Matthew Ward, to choose the plants and explore what to do with them. Linley & Simpson has agreed to offer some volunteers from to help with the planting.
“We all like the idea of a wildflower-style garden,” said Nick. “This will be great for the children’s sensories, provide heaps of colour, and create a thriving habitat for declining species like butterflies and bees.
“The area may also suit a hedgehog garden, so we are also looking at installing hedgehog houses and 'creepy crawly' boxes.
“Martin House is blessed with wonderful gardens and the aim is to create a perfect wildlife area that adds an extra dimension to them.”
He added: “We have identified an area out of the way of the main hustle and bustle of a busy hospice so the wildlife won’t constantly be disturbed.
“We hope the children being cared for at the hospice, as well as their families, will get a lot of joy watching and listening to the wildlife. It would also be a calming, tranquil corner for refection and education.”
Emily Wilkinson, head of corporate social responsibility at Linley & Simpson, said: “We are delighted to back Nick’s idea and his generosity in providing the time, manpower and expertise – as well as the plants and shrubs – to bring this wildlife garden to life.
“We are all advocates of conservation and as well as helping nature, it will also create an added attraction to the hospice’s gardens for the benefit of everyone whose lives are touched by the work of its excellent team there.”
