Earlier this month, the first plants and bulbs donated by Poundbury Gardens were planted at Craig’s Courtyard, a fantastic planting project taking shape at Cerne Abbas Surgery in memory of the late Dr Craig Wakeham, who led the practice for 30 years before dying from COVID-19 in April 2020.

With many obstacles presenting themselves along the way, Stuart Bexon, a member of the surgery’s Patient Support Group, and his team of volunteers have worked tirelessly to renovate the staff’s rest area, demonstrating how gardening really can bring people together in the face of adversity.

We’ve all come to know how beneficial green spaces are to our health and wellbeing, so we really hope the staff at Cerne Abbas Surgery enjoy their new garden, giving them the opportunity for some much-needed rest and reflection after an incredibly hard 19 months. We look forward to seeing how this outdoor space matures as the new plants bed in.

This support for Craig’s Courtyard has formed part of our 15th anniversary celebrations, as we undertake 15 community planting projects to provide a much-needed boost to some of those most affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Mike