PATIENTS, visitors and staff at a hospice in Llandysul are celebrating the completion of a garden transformation that will have a “massive impact” on care after receiving funding from a supermarket giant.

Skanda Vale Hospice in Llandysul was awarded £12,000 to revamp its garden through Tesco’s Bags of Help Scheme.

Following a vote by local shoppers to decide which local causes should benefit from the grants, the hospice’s grounds have been transformed into a tranquil sensory garden with landscaped design elements splitting the space into areas of water, light, sounds and smell.

Skanda Vale offers respite hospice day care for palliative and cancer patients.

Tesco’s funding scheme – which is run in conjunction with charity Groundwork – awards grants raised from the 5p bag levy to community projects up and down the UK.

Brother Francis, head gardener at Skanda Vale, said: “For a lot of people, coming into respite is a big step and an apprehensive moment as patients acknowledging their situation.

“The whole idea behind the transformation was that, as patients walk through the garden, the serene space will help to reduce their apprehension and anxiety.

“Our new garden is a huge success as it’s helped to achieve exactly that."

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