It’s a place dedicated to bringing a sense of peace to hospice residents.
Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth launched the Serenity Garden Project on Monday.
A new garden will be built on the hospice’s green space, providing circulating pathways, bubbling water, plantings, and tree shrubs for hospice residents and their families.
Landscape architect Jane Eligh-Feryn says the goal is to “allow people who are dealing with the grief and sadness of losing a family member or dealing with their own death to be able to find piece and comfort in nature.”
Hospice Foundation Director of Fund Development and Stewardship, Lucie Stuart, said the project got kicked off, “when Hog Jog 2024 accepted our application, and we were chosen to receive the funds from last year’s Hog Jog event.”
“The ball just kept rolling,” said Stuart.
Eligh-Feryn says the inspiration behind the garden came after they went to a tour of the hospice facility in Brantford, which had a Serenity garden of their own that has evolved over time.
“We also noticed while we were there that it was just buzzing with community involvement,” said Eligh-Feryn.
“All kinds of volunteer groups were associated there like Horticultural groups, student groups and seniors groups. We hope to encourage that here too.”
She adds they want the neighbourhood and community in Stratford to feel welcomed to the garden, with hopes that the more people feel touched by the space, the safer it will be.
The garden will also include berms to provide enclosure, and shelters that could hold two to four people, or a whole family.
They expect the project to be finished next summer.
