Volunteers say they won’t be daunted by callous theft of bench from Cancer Wellbeing gardens

The gardens themselves are outside the Robert Horrell Macmillan Centre on the Peterborough City Hosptial site.

The building is home to The Cancer Wellbeing Service which was set up in 2016 by the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust after recognising that people affected by cancer needed emotional aswell as physical support.

The gardens have been tended for the last year by Mary Green after she teamed up with the volunteer gardeners to improve the rather tired existing site in order to create space filled with beautiful planting, relaxing areas, and mosaic art.

Mary teaches mosaic art at the centre, after first attending as a patient herself. It was during one of these lessons that she noticed the need to give the garden some love and the chance to incorporate her art into that.

The project has taken a hit though with the theft of the bench which is believed to have been taken over the weekend.

Cancer Wellbeing Manager Lisa Deacon said: “It was extremely disappointing to find out that a garden bench had been stolen from the garden, however everyone involved with this project remains driven to create a space that those who access our services can enjoy.

“I would like to thank our fantastic volunteers for the work they have put in, and continue to put in, transforming our garden into a tranquil and relaxing space for those who access our service to relax.

“Can I also thank those who have sent us messages of support following this incident.”

The project say there is still a long way to go but the garden is progressing and they are currently raising funds towards art materials and fence panels. This will help to protect the hours of therapeutic art work that has been invested for the future enjoyment of clients who attend the Cancer Well-Being Service.

If anyone would like donate they can visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cancerwellbeinggardenproject.