TV gardener supports Winchester hospice campaign

Britain's best-known gardener has dug in to show his support for the campaign to create a hospice for Winchester.

Alan Titchmarsh visited Burrell House at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital to put the first spade in the ground in what will become the garden at Winchester Hospice.

It will allow patients and their loved ones to spend special time together.

The television presenter, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Winchester, was pleased to hear such a space is being planned for the hospice.

In addition to seeing the space that has been allocated to the garden, Alan was shown around Burrell House, a building with a rich history in Winchester.

A £3 million fundraising campaign is underway to transform Burrell House into a 10-bed hospice and palliative care hub, providing specialist treatment for patients.

Winchester Hospice will be run by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

It will also offer outpatient services, therapies and care for people in their own homes.

As there is no hospice currently located in the city, patients with life limiting illnesses and their families can often spend a considerable amount of time travelling back and forth from their homes - the new building would bring an end to that.