A campaign to rebuild the only hospice in the north is heading for London – thanks to a Dingwall firm.
Landscaping company WoodBlocX has designed a new flower bed, appropriately bearing Highland Hospice’s sunflower logo, to raise money to help fund the rebuilding of the charity’s in-patient unit in Inverness.
And the bed will go on display to a large audience at the famous Chelsea Flower Show.
The hospice is currently running the Project Build appeal to provide cash to carry out a major refurbishment of its riverside site in Inverness.
The company designs and builds wooden blocks which can be built-up into raised beds – with the hospice blocks created specially for sunflowers.
Henry Blake, owner of WoodBlocX, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the hospice rebuild appeal.
“WoodBlocX will be promoting the hospice bed at the Chelsea Flower Show next month as well as locally, so we really hope we can help raise a substantial amount for such a great cause.”
Fiona Patience, Project Build appeal fundraiser at Highland Hospice, said: “The specially engraved blocks look fantastic and we are so looking forward to seeing photos of them in gardens around the Highlands, and possibly further afield.
“Hopefully lots of people will choose the hospice design, and every time they see the hospice block in their garden they can be reminded of the support they have shown our rebuild appeal.”
The hospice rebuild will double the size of the current in-patient unit, upgrade the day therapy centre and increase space for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and bereavement support.
The new building will house several more single rooms and a new sanctuary room to provide a quiet area for patients and their families.
The fundraising target for the Project Build appeal is £4.5million, which is in addition to the regular fundraising needed to provide the day-to-day hospice services.
Last month the appeal reached an important milestone, with £3million having being raised, leaving a further £1.5million to go.
Building work is due to start in June 2015 and will take about 14 months to complete.
In-patient hospice services will be relocated to the County Community Hospital in Invergordon while the work is ongoing.