VOLUNTEERS have transformed waste ground into a beautiful sensory garden for children who use a Worcester hospice.

The interactive garden was created thanks to the hard work of volunteers from Specsavers, who spent nearly 18 months raising money and helping to create the area for Acorns Children’s Hospice.

A group of about 10 volunteers from the Broad Street store raised money to build a retained wall – in the shape of an eye – so there could be raised beds, which disabled children could access easily.

They also secured touchy-feely and scented plants at a reduced rate from Tony Blake at St Peter’s Garden Centre, Worcester, to bring the flowerbeds to life.

Thyme, chives, rosemary, mint and lavender have been planted along with two acer trees and a curry plant.

The herbs will be added to food in the hospice’s kitchen.

Val Paine, Specsavers’ senior receptionist, and her husband Gary were among the volunteers. Mrs Paine said: “It’s just been a pleasure to do.

“It’s everything we wanted it to be. The accessibility is really good because the children can go in and out of the garden easily and we’ve added solar lighting so they can also enjoy it in the evening.”

Mrs Paine said colleague Becky Rashbrook and her brother John Lincoln, a gardener, helped create the area along with landscape gardener Matt Williamson.

She also thanked Muriel Ballinger and Phil and Hazel Inight who donated money to the project.

The garden will now be maintained by volunteers and the hospice’s maintenance engineer Tony Williams. He said: “They’ve done a tremendous job.

“The sensory plants have been amazing because a lot of our children are sensory impaired.

“They hold them under the children’s noses and you can see they pick up on it.”

Specsavers Worcester has supported Acorns since 2005, raising in the region of £16,000.