Volunteer gardeners who are helping to make the prized plot at Letchworth’s Garden House Hospice a sanctuary for patients, family members and staff were on hand when a North Herts accountancy firm confirmed a blooming big donation to support their work.

UHY Hacker Young, which has offices in Letchworth and Royston, has committed to providing the £12,000 it takes to make the garden grow over the next 12 months.

Proceeds from an annual golf day and a quiz night in October will help get the fund off to a flying start, the firm is sponsoring the hospice’s collecting boxes during its 25th anniverary year and will also be providing water bottles and reflective bands for September’s Starlight Walk – the hospice’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Tax director Graham Boar told guests at a launch event: “It is hard to find someone local to talk to about Garden House without hearing from them a story of the wonderful treatment someone they know has received.

“Certainly it is a cause which has been close to my family’s heart, with a couple of family friends having spent the end of their lives there and with both of my parents having been volunteers for a number of years.

“Nominating the charity to receive our support during their 25th year was probably the easiest decision I made at work that week.

“I’m now really excited to see how much we can raise for this fantastic community facility and have no doubt that I’ll be hearing all sorts of praise for the hospice after publicising this initiative among our clients and contacts.”

North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald praised the work of the hospice and the example set by the firm in its support for the Gillison Close facility – which provides care for patients and their families across North Herts and Stevenage – which he hoped other companies would be encouraged to follow.

The launch at the firm’s offices in Broadway was the first public engagement for new chief executive Sue Plummer, who began work last month and is now embarking on a ‘get to know you’ campaign meeting community and corporate supporters.

It’s £100 for a team of five to enter the quiz night, which will be held at Letchworth Rugby Club on Thursday, October 15 – you can register at www.ghhquiznight.eventbrite.co.uk.