Sarah Eberle’s Psalm 23 Garden transferred to Winchester Hospice

Work has begun on installing Sarah Eberle’s Psalm 23 Garden from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show into its new home at Winchester Hospice.

The garden scooped a gold medal at the recent RHS Chelsea Flower Show, also winning Best Sanctuary Garden and Best Construction for its class.

Designer Sarah Eberle said, ‘I am thrilled that the Psalm 23 Garden will have a permanent home at Winchester Hospice and hope that it will provide patients, their families and the staff a place to reflect and pause.

‘This garden meant a great deal to me, and so it is a particular joy to know that it will be appreciated and enjoyed by many more people in the future.’

Once its move to the hospice is complete, at the end of November, it will be enjoyed by staff, patients and their families and friends.

Prof Paul Williams, CEO of Bible Society, which sponsored the garden, said, ‘I am delighted that Bible Society’s Psalm 23 Garden will be going to Winchester Hospice. I can’t think of a better place for a garden that has provoked in so many people, during its time at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a sense of peace, tranquillity and restoration of the soul.’

Winchester Hospice opened in September, providing palliative care for 10 inpatients as well as patients in hospital and in their homes.

It is in the grounds of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. The garden will be in a walled area, formerly a disused space.

The seven-week installation and adaptation of the Psalm 23 Garden to its new home includes using cranes to transport the gabbro rocks, originally from Scotland, some of which weigh between seven and eight tonnes. Cranes will also be used to set the trees in place.