A 12-strong team of gardeners will collect two silver gongs for maintaining hospice grounds.

The green-fingered volunteers who look after the Michael Sobell Hospice gardens at Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood will be commended for their “blooming marvellous” work preserving the grounds throughout the year.

A special awards ceremony for the London Gardens Society Hospice Garden Competition will take place at the Old Library, The Guildhall, on October 4, at 7pm.

Diana Stuckey, who has been a volunteer gardener at Michael Sobell Hospice for many years, said: “I have worked on the garden with most of the 12 gardeners – a fantastic team - for about 14 years.

“We all get on well and bring different skills to the maintenance of the grounds.

“With hospice patients recently being moved into the main hospital, we have also taken on some courtyard gardens close to wards ten and 11, where the patients have been temporarily relocated.

“It makes the patient and visitor areas much more pleasant and relaxing.”