Finding friendship and purpose by volunteering with Wrexham Maelor Gardening Group
02/04/2026
Volunteers Sue and Evan share how gardening at Wrexham Maelor Hospital has become a special place of friendship, purpose and peace.
Wrexham Maelor Gardening Group was set up to improve garden areas around Wrexham Maelor Hospital to create a calming environment for patients, visitors and staff.
Finding myself in Wrexham Maelor Gardens: Why I Volunteer
My name is Sue Davies and I live in Connah’s Quay. My journey into volunteering began as my husband was undergoing cancer treatment under Shooting Stars.
One day we came in for an appointment and there was a garden table sale and tombola happening outside. I love a good tombola, so of course I stopped to have a look.That’s where I met Denise, one of the volunteers. We got chatting and she told me about the gardening group. She was so lovely and friendly, and we got on straight away. She took me for a walk around the hospital grounds to show me some of the work the volunteers had been doing - and that was the start of it all.
At the time, my husband would often be here for chemotherapy between 9am and 4pm. Instead of sitting and waiting all day, I began coming out to the gardens. It gave me a chance to be myself for a while. Now I come few times a week, although a little less during the winter months.
When I first joined, the area by the nurseries where the polytunnel is now (near staff housing) was just grass. We only had one small storage unit with a few tools in it for the whole site. Since then, so much has changed.
We started by weeding the chapel courtyard, and gradually we worked our way around all the courtyards across the site. The polytunnel has been transformed—you wouldn’t recognise it compared to when we started. We now grow lots of vegetables which we sell at our table sales, asking for donations that go straight back into supporting the group.
We’ve also worked with Keep Wales Tidy, who donated supplies and support to help us develop the spaces further.
Winter is usually our time for tidying and preparing everything for spring and summer. One year, our volunteers planted an incredible 12,000 bulbs across the hospital site ready for spring. Seeing them bloom was amazing, it’s exciting starting to see them again.
One of the spaces we’re particularly proud of is the courtyard behind the radiotherapy department. It was designed so staff have somewhere peaceful to sit outside during their breaks. We even added a trellis to give them a bit of privacy while they have lunch. It’s just as important for the staff to have somewhere calming as it is for patients and visitors.
But for me, volunteering isn’t just about the gardening—it’s about the people too.
I’ve made some really good friends here, people I probably would never have met otherwise. Tom and Evan are two of them—we jokingly call ourselves the Three Amigos. When we all meet up as a group, it’s lovely to look around and see how far we’ve come together.
The best thing about volunteering here is that it’s flexible. If someone only wants to come for an hour and do a bit of weeding, that’s absolutely fine. You can pick what you’d like to do and how long you’d like to stay.
We’re always looking for more volunteers to join us, anyone who enjoys being outdoors and making a difference is welcome.
For me, this garden has become a special place. It’s a place of friendship, purpose, and peace—and I’m so glad I stopped for that tombola all those years ago.
Finding joy in gardening: Why I Volunteer
My name is Evan Hope and I live in Burton Rossett. I joined the hospital gardening volunteer group about two years ago, not long after my wife passed away.
I was retired from Magellan Aerospace in Llay, Wrexham, and wanted to use my time helping. Volunteering with the gardening group turned out to be exactly what I needed.
When I first joined, there really wasn’t much here yet. The gardens were only just starting to take shape, and there was plenty of work to be done. That’s one of the things I enjoy about it— you can actually see the difference you’re making.
I’ve spent a lot of my time working in the area around the polytunnel. It’s become a real focus for us. When I first started helping there, it was quite basic, but over the last couple of years we’ve been gradually building it up. Now we’ve got new raised beds in place where we’re planning to grow more vegetables.
We’re lucky that new volunteers are joining the group all the time, and some of them bring great experience with them. One of our newer volunteers knows a lot about growing vegetables, and we also have someone who used to work as a professional gardener. Having that knowledge in the group really helps us learn from each other and improve what we’re doing.
Across the hospital site we’ve planted thousands of bulbs, flowers, plants and vegetables. When spring and summer arrive and everything starts to bloom, it’s amazing to see the colour and life that’s been created.
Even in winter there’s always plenty to do. That’s the time when we tidy up the beds, prepare the soil, and get everything ready for the seasons ahead. It might be quieter, but the work we do then makes a big difference later on.
When I first joined the group, I planned to volunteer just one day a week. But it didn’t quite work out that way. If I hear that someone else is coming in to do some work, I often come along too—and before I know it, I’m here four or five days a week. I simply enjoy coming in and helping where I can.
The gardening is great, but the people are just as important. You meet others you might never have crossed paths with otherwise, and there’s a real sense of teamwork. Everyone works at their own pace, and there’s always someone to have a chat with while you’re getting on with a job.
Volunteering gives you some purpose and it’s good to feel that you’re doing something worthwhile, especially in a place that means so much to patients, visitors and staff.
If anyone is thinking about volunteering, my advice would be simple, come and give it a try. You don’t have to commit to lots of time. You can come for an hour, do a little bit, and see how you like it.
You might find, like I did, that it becomes something you really look forward to. If you’re interested in volunteering with the group get in touch by emailing wrexhamcommunitygardeners@gmail.com.
If you’re interested in volunteering with the group get in touch by emailing wrexhamcommunitygardeners@gmail.com.