"If it's the last thing they look at, and it's this garden, that's quite nice for them."

Volunteer gardener Anne Sloper is justifiably proud of the brightly coloured flowers, pretty bird aviary, hand-made wooden troughs and neatly mowed lawns at the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch.

A team of enthusiastic volunteers, overseen by head gardener Nigel Howe, work hard to ensure the outdoor space is something for patients, visitors and staff at the palliative care centre to enjoy.

As many patients are unable to leave the wards to visit the garden, great care is taken by the team when it comes to planning the garden areas, with one volunteer creating the troughs to be fixed to the wall, and some taller plants put in so that patients can enjoy the view from their beds.

"We want to make it so that patients that can't get outside can also see it," explains volunteer Margaret Crawshaw.

"But it's for the relatives as well, and you like to think that the people that work here get something out of it.

"We provide amusements in the way of fish and birds, plus us gardening as well - people give us their advice and that's nice, because people that have had gardens never lost that interest."

Anne, who began volunteering at Macmillan after losing her husband, adds: "We've put little awnings out and gazebos so that people can sit out there. Most people have got a garden, so they can appreciate what goes in it."

The volunteers work regular hours each week, keeping up with general maintenance such as watering, grass cutting and pruning; planting new blooms seasonally and sourcing plants from local nurseries, which are purchased with donations to the charity.

As well as creating a peaceful environment for patients during their stay at the unit, the volunteers are keen to make them feel welcome when they arrive, taking particular care of the garden area at the main entrance.

"When they arrive by ambulance, the entrance there is all troughs," explains volunteer John Tompkins.

"You can imagine a patient being carried in on a stretcher, looking at the hanging baskets thinking 'this is nice, I'm going to get looked after here'.

"Some people say what a wonderful start it is to their treatment here."

Like many of the volunteers at Macmillan, John felt he wanted to give something back.

"My father passed away here," he explains.

But they all agree that they get as much out of the garden as the patients do.

"We do the garden for the patients, but we all do it for the company as well," says John.

"When you're retired it's nice to get up and do something and feel useful."

Margaret adds: "You get something out of any volunteering, but in the garden it's even more so, because you can see the results.

"I think you get back more than you give."

To find out more about volunteering at the Macmillan Unit, or to make a donation, contact Anita Rigler on 01202 705353 or email Anita.Rigler@rbch.nhs.uk.