Tag: Garden of Lights

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Support local hospice care this Christmas at our festive events

Willow Wood Hospice is kicking off its Christmas fundraising fun with a return to Hyde Town Hall for its popular Christmas Fair on Saturday 15th November.

From 11am to 3pm, step straight into the festive spirit by meeting Santa; picking up unique gifts, crafts and decorations; and treating yourself to tasty festive goodies, candles, cards and more.

There will also be the opportunity to enjoy some delicious festive refreshments and soak up the seasonal cheer.

Entry will be £1.50 per person and Under-12s are free.

Another must-see Christmas event for the community is the Garden of Lights celebrations evenings at the Hospice, where the gardens are transformed into a winter wonderland of over 11,000 lights.

Kindly sponsored by Brother International, each of the seven nights in December will feature a different local choir bringing seasonal cheer, along with refreshments and festive stalls to explore.

Doors are open from 5pm to 8pm on Tuesday 2nd, Thursday 4th, Tuesday 9th, Thursday 11th, Saturday 13th, Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th.

Entry is free and you can just turn up with no need to book, for what promises to be a magical evening for all.

On Thursday 4th, there’s the added bonus of a Festive Wreath-making Workshop, where you can unleash your creativity by creating a stunning wreath from scratch to take home and enjoy.

It will be a relaxed, creative evening in a cosy atmosphere in the Hospice’s dining room, guided by floral expert Zoe Smith, from The Flower House in Marple.

Tickets are £35 per person, which includes all materials for your wreath and a festive drink and nibbles.

Spaces are limited and can be booked online at https://willowwood.org.uk/wreath-making/

As this time of year often brings memories of those we love, the Hospice’s Light up a Life appeal is a beautiful way to remember someone special, while also helping to care for local patients and families.

By making a donation in their memory, your loved one’s name will be included in a Book of Remembrance, you can hang a personalised ornament on a Tree of Dedication in the reception area at the Hospice, and you will be invited to one of two dedication events in December.

Generously sponsored by Anthony Barton Independent Family Funeral Services in Mossley, the events include moments of reflection and music, followed by the symbolic lighting of the Light up a Life tree.

They are taking place on Saturday 6th December at 2pm at Old Glossop Parish Church and Sunday 14th December at 2pm at Albion Church in Ashton-under-Lyne.

To make a dedication and find out more about the appeal, visit www.willowwood.org.uk/lual.

The Hospice is also supported by the generosity of the communities of Tameside and Glossop, who organise their own events to raise vital funds for patient care.

These include the Festival of Christmas Music at Albion Church on 30th November and the Willow Wood Hospice Choir Christmas Concert at Holy Trinity Church in Stalybridge on 13th December.

More information can be found at www.willowwood.org.uk

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications, said: “Christmas is such a special time for our community, and we’re very excited to welcome you to our festive events this year.

“Throughout the season, there are so many wonderful ways for people to come together, make memories and support local hospice care.

“Last year’s Christmas Fair raised £8,000 and this year we’re hoping for an even bigger success. It costs around £10,000 to run the Hospice for a day, so every pound raised really helps us to continue providing specialist, compassionate and dignified care for patients and those closest to them.”

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How our Garden of Lights became a festive fixture

Our Garden of Lights celebration evenings are enjoyed by people throughout the local community and beyond every year, but very few know how they first came about. 

It all began in 2017, when the Hospice’s Maintenance Manager Dave Egerton (pictured) approached our then CEO Karen Houlston.

“I asked Karen if there was any way we could put some lights on for the Inpatient Unit,” explained Dave.

“I said it would be of no cost to the Hospice and I would do it all in my own time, so I put a few lights up and everyone liked them.

“The following year, the Fundraising team asked me if they got hold of some lights, would I put them up and I did. From there, it just took off.”

At the beginning, there were around 800 to 1,000 lights – now there are in excess of 11,000 lights which illuminate our stunning gardens in the dark and make them a picturesque scene for patients, staff and visitors to enjoy.

For Dave, a lot of hard work goes in behind the scenes to ensure it looks spectacular.

“I start looking at the lights in October and there’s lots of testing to do,” he said. “There’s around 35 hours of work involved in putting them up.

“We buy some lights and we get some donated, so we mix and match and try to make it look different every year. I have to wire them in such a way based on where the electric points are and I draw a map so I know where to put the lights every year.

“I leave the lights on every night over Christmas, even after we’ve had the Garden of Lights events, for our patients and then start to take them down in the new year. That involves around 25 hours of work in total and then the lights are taken to our Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre to be stored.”

What makes it all worthwhile for Dave is hearing about the positive impact the lights have on our patients.

“On the very first night, I was testing the lights for a couple of hours and a young man came in with his dad, whose eyes lit up when he saw the lights. I had to nip out but I said I would leave the lights on a bit longer for them. When I returned, staff had turned his bed round so he had a better view of the lights. The young man said ‘thank you Dave from me and my dad’. His dad sadly died two days later.

“Two years ago, an elderly lady who has been in and out of the Hospice was here at Christmas. She asked me when the lights would be on as her family were coming in, so we put the lights on for them and they all sat watching them together which was lovely.

“It makes all the hard work worthwhile knowing that seeing the lights could be the last memory for a patient when they come out of the Inpatient Unit into the gardens or sit watching them through their window.”

What started as a way of decorating our Hospice gardens for patients quickly became a fixture in the festive calendar and a popular event which raises vital funds to support the care of patients with life-limiting illnesses from Tameside and Glossop.

“It’s nice to have seen it grow from being just a few lights where a handful of staff were here to open the doors for the public to have a look around,” added Dave.

“In 2021, we introduced the memory stars in the top section of the garden and now it has graduated into a fundraising event which is well supported and raises a substantial amount for the Hospice.”

This year, there are 11 free-to-attend celebration evenings – with a different choir from the local community performing at each one, as well as seasonal refreshments available and a range of festive stalls to browse.

For more details about the event, click here.

By Adam Higgins 

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Hospice to hold heartwarming festive fundraisers

The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness and giving, and this year Willow Wood Hospice is holding a series of festive fundraisers that will warm your heart and bring hope to those in need.

As we approach the most wonderful time of the year, the Hospice is committed to spreading love, compassion and support to our community through events that will brighten the festive season and make a significant difference in the lives of Willow Wood’s patients and their families.

This is encapsulated through our Garden of Lights celebration evenings, where you can join us at the Hospice, on Willow Wood Close in Ashton-under-Lyne, to create magical memories with family and friends in our stunning gardens.

Stroll amongst the glowing trees, twinkling with thousands of lights, enjoy a seasonal tipple and festive fayre, and browse stalls stacked high with Christmas crafts, gifts, cards and more. You will also be able to buy refreshments and explore our Gift Shop in reception.

Join us on any of these dates: Tuesday 28th November, Thursday 30th November, Tuesday 5th December, Thursday 7th December, Saturday 9th December, Tuesday 12th December and Thursday 14th December.

Entry is free and you can just turn up on any of the evenings between 5pm and 8pm.

You will also receive a warm Willow Wood welcome at our Christmas Market, taking place at the Hospice on Sunday 26th November from midday until 3pm.

Enjoy a seasonal drink or two whilst having a look around our selection of stalls filled with Christmas goodies and gift ideas.

Admission is £3 per person, while Under-12s are free. There is no need to book as you can pay on the door on the day.

Only Blue Badge permit holders will be able to park at the Hospice but external parking has been secured, so you will be able to park in the car park at West Hill School on Stamford Street and there will be a shuttle bus service running to and from the Hospice to help reduce traffic.

If you are unable to attend any of these events but still want to support the Hospice, you can visit our online shop at www.willowwood.org.uk/shop where you will find an array of bespoke items to buy – from beautifully designed Christmas cards and notepads to 2024 calendars and diaries which will make for perfect presents.

On that very note, there’s a £2,000 jackpot and 39 other fantastic cash prizes up for grabs in the Winter Super Draw, which you can enter for just £1 per ticket at www.willowwood.org.uk/superdraw

Alternatively, the Hospice would be incredibly grateful for any donations of items which could be used as raffle prizes – whether it be a chocolate selection box or a scented candle – that can be dropped off at our main reception or any of our charity shops.

Attending any of Willow Wood’s festive events or making a purchase in our online shop will directly support the care of patients from the local community in Tameside and Glossop at the Hospice, which needs at least £3.3 million every year to continue its vital work.

As well as celebrating the season, the Hospice also recognises that the festive period can be a difficult time for many who dearly miss loved ones and remembering friends and family who are no longer with us is precious.

Light up a Life is an opportunity to dedicate a light on a beautiful willow tree in the Hospice gardens for your loved ones, and light a star for them in our virtual night’s sky.

The community is also invited to three Light up a Life events, where you, your family and friends can share the heart-warming experience as you watch the tree lit and see your loved one’s light shining bright.

The services, which are free to attend, will take place as follows:

Saturday 25th November at 4pm at Willow Wood Hospice, Willow Wood Close, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6SL.

Saturday 2nd December at 2pm at Old Glossop Parish Church, Church Street South, SK13 7RU.

Sunday 10th December at 2pm at Albion Church, Stamford Street East, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6QQ.

To dedicate a light and find out more, go to https://willowwood.org.uk/events/lual.

On 25th November, only Blue Badge permit holders will be able to park at the Hospice but you will also be able to park at Ashton Sixth Form College, which can be accessed via Montague Road, and there will be a shuttle bus service running to and from the Hospice.

The closest pay and display car park is on Darnton Road, where you can park for a small fee of £1.50 for an hour, £2.50 for two hours, £3.50 for three hours or £4 for all day.

Pictured: The Hospice gardens lit up spectacularly at night ahead of our Garden of Lights celebration evenings

By Adam Higgins