Supporters of the Poole based hospice have helped the charity raise the money through dedications on its Celebration Tree in the hospice garden.

The tree was designed, built and installed by Elite Fabrication & Welding Ltd in 2019 to mark the hospice’s 25th anniversary, while Dolphin Marine offered its services to handcraft and engrave each dedication on a leaf in memory of a loved one. Both local companies have donated their time and materials free of charge.

There are four designs of leaves, birds, flowers and squirrels to choose from and, for a donation to Forest Holme Hospice Charity, each is engraved with a personalised message for a loved one. The leaf tributes are then displayed within the hospice garden for a year, after which there will be the option to renew for another 12 months, or have the leaf returned to keep.

Kirsty Perks, fundraiser at Forest Holme, said: “It is fantastic to reach the £10,000 milestone but more importantly it is so lovely to have a place where people can visit and remember their loved ones, irrespective of whether they were cared for by the hospice or not.

“We are also so grateful to both Elite Fabrication and Dolphin Marine for their generosity in making this concept a reality.”

To make a leaf dedication please contact the fundraising team either via Facebook Messenger, call 01202 670644 or email: fundraising@forestholmehospice.org.uk