A £160,000 garden specially designed for terminally ill patients could be created at Colchester Hospital with the help of fundraising.

The Time Garden will be the only one of its kind in the East of England, and one of only a handful in the UK.

It will include a pavilion with enough space for two beds, a seating area, and its own utilities so patients can make drinks, listen to music and turn on heating during the colder seasons.

Staff were inspired by a visit to Frimley Park Hospital, in Surrey, which is currently rated ‘Outstanding’ for its end of life care.

Now, Beverley Pickett, end of life care facilitator at the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, and 20 other colleagues will participate in the 10-mile Colchester Starlight Walk, on July 9, to raise a portion of the necessary funds.

She said: “We’re convinced having our own Time Garden will help us to improve the experience of patients in the last weeks and days of life as well as for their families.

“It will allow patients who are on a ward to choose to have some time on their own with their loved ones.

“We’ve set up a working group, which includes the trust’s medical director, Doctor Angela Tillett, and estimate the garden will cost approximately £160,000.

“It could also be used by health care professionals when they have to break bad news to patients and their families, for staff debriefings and even weddings involving a patient who is terminally ill.

“But also to say a final goodbye to much-loved family pets.”

Once launched, the garden will remain open seven days a week from 8am until 8pm in a courtyard between the Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) and Radiotherapy Centre.

Students from Colchester Institute have been approached to produce artwork for the area and Mrs Pickett has met with a senior executive from the Beth Chatto Gardens, at Elmstead Market, for support.

The project also has the backing of the Colchester Hospitals Charity (CoHoC), which has created a Time Garden fund for the public to make donations, and has urged people to join the hospital’s Starlight Walk team.

The fundraising event starts and finishes at Playgolf Colchester, on Bakers Lane, from 7.30pm.

To take part contact Caroline Bates, head of charity and fundraising on 01206 745282 or email starlightwalk@hotmail.co.uk.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/CHUFT-Time-Garden.