A sanctuary garden designed to provide peace and tranquillity for people approaching the end of their lives has moved closer to completion.

East Anglian Daily Times: A wooden lodge is installed into the new Time Garden at Colchester Hospital. Picture: COLCHESTER HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTA wooden lodge is installed into the new Time Garden at Colchester Hospital. Picture: COLCHESTER HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Image: COLCHESTER HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST)

A wooden lodge has been installed at Colchester General Hospital’s new Time Garden – an area that will offer terminally ill people and their loved ones space for quiet contemplation, reflection and privacy.

Accessible to wheelchair users, the garden opens next month and will have room for a bed to be wheeled into it, and space another patient and family to sit.

Medical director Angela Tillett said: “The garden is going to make such a positive difference to our patients.”

Green Unit has supplied the lodge.

East Anglian Daily Times: A wooden lodge is lowered into the new Time Garden at Colchester Hospital. Picture: COLCHESTER HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTA wooden lodge is lowered into the new Time Garden at Colchester Hospital. Picture: COLCHESTER HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Image: COLCHESTER HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST)

The hospital needs to raise around £160,000 to complete the project.

The lodge has been delivered ahead of Dying Matters Awareness Week, from May 14-20.