Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice takes open gardens online
A hospice which normally fundraises with visits to secret gardens has taken the experience online instead.
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice launched Virtual Open Gardens, short two-minute peeks at more than 40 diverse and beautiful gardens in South-east London.
The Open Gardens Festival organised in aid of the hospice by trustee Tim Barnes normally takes place in June.
This year, in lockdown, visitors can explore these beautiful gardens from home. In more than 40 self-made video tours, garden owners from Bexley, Blackheath, Charlton, Eltham and Greenwich showcase their lovingly-tended gardens, sharing gardening ideas and inspiration.
Due to Covid-19, the hospice is expecting a huge shortfall in funding. Open Gardens has been a major fundraising event for the hospice, raising at least ÂŁ12,000 each year, as well as providing much enjoyment to both garden openers and visitors.
With daily running costs totalling around ÂŁ23,000, the hospice is fighting to keep vital services going and provide their specialist palliative care and support to local families.
Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, said:  “I’m very proud to have organisations like the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice in the constituency of Erith and Thamesmead.
“The hospice does amazing work all year round and has helped to create a stronger, more connected community during the pandemic.
“Virtual Open Gardens is another fantastic project that the community can enjoy.”
Matthew Pennycook, Member of Parliament for Greenwich and Woolwich, said: “In the midst of the current crisis, Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice’s care and support are needed more than ever.
“I hope the community will take the time to appreciate remotely the many splendid residential gardens and also donate to the hospice’s emergency appeal so that it can continue to provide outstanding specialist end of life care to families in our community”.
Virtual Open Gardens is available now until 31 July here.
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