A special place of tranquillity and reflection has been created by staff and volunteers in the beautiful woodland gardens at St. Joseph's Hospice in Thornton.

A new Stations of the Cross garden has been installed to commemorate the stages of Jesus Christ’s final journey, creating a mini pilgrimage of reflection and meditation around 14 stations of devotion, beginning with Jesus’ condemnation.

The new garden was unveiled and blessed by Bishop Tom Williams on Thursday (29 June) in the presence of school children from St. Monica’s Catholic Primary School, hospice trustees, staff and volunteers and is now open to the public.

A special service of reflection will also take during the hospice’s 55th Anniversary Garden Party this Saturday (8th July) which will involve a visit to the new garden.

George Foster, chair of trustees at St. Joseph’s Hospice, said: “We are all incredibly proud to be able to unveil this wonderful new garden which will offer members of our community, as well as patients and their families, a special place to visit and reflect in the peaceful woodlands at the hospice.

“We like to thank those individuals who contributed towards the garden and we look forward to many people coming along to visit it over the coming weeks, months and years ahead.”