CALLING all gardeners and DIY enthusiasts - St Margaret's Hospice needs you.

The charity is seeking to establish a team of volunteer gardeners at its hospice in Taunton, to benefit both the patients and their visitors.

The hospice also needs volunteer maintenance assistants to help with general maintenance and decorating jobs at its sites in Taunton and Yeovil. Tasks can range from replacing light bulbs and painting to fixing broken tiles or leaky pipes.

These flexible roles would suit anyone who wants to put their skills to good use in their free time. Around 1,200 people already volunteer in a wide variety of roles, including at charity shops across Somerset, to help St. Margaret’s Hospice care for people affected by life-limiting illnesses.

Caroline Slocombe has recently started work as a part-time gardener at the hospice in Bishops Hull. She said: “Patients, visitors and staff here at the hospice really appreciate having beautiful gardens to look out on and spend time in when the weather is nice.

“Keeping our grounds looking their best is a year-round effort, with different jobs to do depending on the seasons, and I really need some help with planting and maintaining attractive gardens which can be enjoyed by our patients, relatives, visitors and staff.

“I would love to put together a friendly team of volunteers and am sure that they will enjoy working together to do something positive for the community.

“All plants and equipment will be provided, and we can be flexible depending on how much time volunteers are able to give. You don’t have to be Alan Titchmarsh to make a real difference – if you can spare a couple of hours and enjoy working in the fresh air, we would love to hear from you.”

St. Margaret’s Hospice needs to raise more than £9.5m a year to fund its end of life care services for people across Somerset. Last year the charity supported more than 3,800 people affected by life-limiting illnesses, including families and carers.

For more information about volunteering, contact Susan Wilmott on susan.wilmott@st-margarets-hospice.org.uk or call 01823 346965.