The National Trust Nymans gardens at Handcross provided a stunning backdrop on Tuesday 13 June, when St Catherine’s hosted a bereavement walk, to help local people dealing with grief and loss.
Supported by Nymans, and in partnership with Carers West Sussex, the informal walking event was to support local carers who have been bereaved. Free of charge to attend, it provided attendees with an opportunity to talk, as little or as much as they wanted, about their bereavement experiences and their loved ones, whilst walking around the beautiful gardens.
The session was run by our Wellbeing Team and began with a short poem of reflection, followed by a gentle walk around the gardens to observe the natural surroundings and enjoy conversations with one another. The session ended with refreshments in the café and a final chance for reflection.
The bereavement walk at Nymans
Claire Vaculik, St Catherine’s Bereavement Co-ordinator said,“The bereavement walk was a wonderful way to bring people together, to encourage them to take a break from their normal daily lives and provide a calm and beautiful space to enjoy nature. If they felt comfortable, it also offered an opportunity for them to share their feelings and experiences about their bereavement journey. We are so grateful to the National Trust and Nyman’s for supporting these walks and giving us such a gorgeous venue to host these important events. We are very much looking forward to running another one in the near future.”
Liz Wait, who took part in the walk said: “I really enjoyed meeting people on the same journey as myself and it’s brought me great comfort today. I didn’t know if I wanted to get out of the car when I arrived and I was in tears at the start, but it’s been great and really lifted me.”
To register your interest in attending a future walk at Nymans please email our Wellbeing Team: wellbeing@stch.org.uk.
Cathy Gleeson retired earlier this year after 35 years of service to St Catherine’s. Here, Cathy reflects on her incredible career as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at our hospice.
Selena King, Spiritual and Anticipatory Care Lead at St Catherine's Hospice, reflects on the meaning behind our new Reflective Courtyard water feature and how spaces of sensory connection can offer comfort, remembrance and moments of peace during grief.
Jigsaw South East and St Catherine’s Hospice are working in partnership to support families of patients receiving care at the hospice, particularly those with children and young people.
Your donation will help ensurelocal peopleapproaching death and those who love and care for them can access compassionate, specialist palliative and end of life care.
The bereavement walk at Nymans
