A NURSE is appealing for members of the public to raise £25,000 to create a special garden at Colchester General Hospital – without donating a penny.

If enough people vote for Colchester Hospital Charity’s (CoHoC) Time Garden Appeal before voting closes on November 18, the project could receive a donation of up to £25,000 from the Aviva Community Fund.

The money will go to the Time Garden Appeal target of £160,000 to create a garden at the hospital for use by terminally ill patients and their families.

Beverley Pickett, End of Life Care Facilitator at the hospital, said: “The appeal has already received about £20,000 and if we win the Aviva Community Fund we will be much closer to starting the garden.

“We’re grateful to Optimum Independent Financial Advisers who nominated the Time Garden Appeal and we’re thrilled to have been selected as an Aviva Community Fund project.

“It means that the Time Garden Appeal can receive up to £25,000 if enough people register online and vote for us.

“Everyone who registers, which is free of charge, is given 10 votes so on behalf of the whole Palliative Care Team I’d urge as many members of the public as possible to register and then to vote for the Time Garden Appeal.”

The Time Garden will include a pavilion with space for two beds, a seating area, and its own utilities so people using it can make drinks, listen to music and be kept warm during colder times of the year.

Located in the courtyard between the Emergency Assessment Unit and Radiotherapy Centre, the garden would be the only one of its kind in the east of England.

The Aviva Community Fund projects with the most votes will become finalists, which will be announced on November 22.

The winners will be chosen by a judging panel and announced on January 10 next year.

Generous donations have already included from the Colchester League of Hospital and Community Friends.

Mrs Pickett and about 20 of her colleagues, including specialist palliative care nurses and doctors, raised about £2,500 for the Time Garden project by taking part in the 10-mile Colchester Starlight Walk in July.

The idea for a special garden at Colchester General Hospital for use by terminally ill patients and their families originates from a visit by staff from Colchester General Hospital to Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, which already has a Time Garden.

To vote click HERE.