Cub Scouts plant bulbs at Colchester Hospital charity garden

The 1st Great Horkesley Cub Pack selected the Colchester Hospital Charity as their fundraising cause for the past year and presented a cheque for £410 on Saturday.

The Cubs, who range between the ages of eight to 10 and a half, also planted 200 bulbs in sections of the garden, which opened last month.

The drought-resistant garden was designed in collaboration with the RHS as a wellbeing space for patients, staff, and visitors of the NHS facility.

The Cubs planted Scilla siberica bulbs, which were chosen in honour of one of their leaders, Scilla Watling.

Ms Watling, who has been a volunteer in Scouting in the Colchester North district for several decades, said: "I am so proud of the Cubs for all of their hard work raising money over the past year and in planting the bulbs so diligently.

"It was lovely to hear comments from passers-by as they were planting saying how wonderful it was to see young people taking on a project to improve the environment within the local community.

"I feel so honoured to have my little Scilla bulbs planted, and have personally enjoyed this initiative from start to finish as plants are very close to my heart; I hope the bulbs will give as much pleasure to everyone else who visits the garden."

Alison Findlay from the RHS, who showed the Cubs how to plant the bulbs and explained how they work, said: "The garden has been a real collaboration and so well-supported by members of the local community, including the 1st Great Horkesley Cubs who have been brilliant at raising funds and planting the bulbs which will look resplendent in the Spring."

The Cubs raised funds through activities such as a film screening, penny party, cake sales, and carol singing.

The Colchester Wellbeing Garden is funded separately from frontline care, with contributors including Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity, the Greener Communities Grant from NHS Charities Together, The Oak Foundation, and the RHS.