St Barnabas launches Dragonfly appeal at Doddington Hall

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Following the hugely successful Forget Me Not campaign last year which raised in excess of £100,000 for the Hospice, St Barnabas has now launched the Dragonfly Appeal which will follow the same format this Spring.

The appeal is to raise funds to support a free children’s bereavement service that the Hospice is launching later this year. Enabling children and young people to talk about their grief in one-to-one or group settings, with trained counsellors.

Tracy Tuffs, Counselling Service Team Lead at St Barnabas Hospice, said: “Having a child bereavement service at St Barnabas is something that has been in the pipeline for a while.  Our plans are to launch the children’s service to only those with a direct connection to our Hospice initially and then evaluate from there.”

St Barnabas has partnered with The Old Smithy Forge once again to create handmade, ironwork dragonflies, which are often used as a symbol of life after death, for their supporters to purchase in memory of a loved one.

Photo – St Barnabas

For a donation, supporters can have their very own dragonfly to sit in their garden, home or special place of remembrance. They have a wingspan of 21cm, body length of 13cm and height of 85cm.

The first 1,000 dragonflies purchased will go on display at Doddington Hall from Saturday April 4 to Sunday April 19 so by purchasing early, your keepsake dragonfly will be part of the incredible display in a serene area of the Hall’s gardens.

Stefanos at the Old Smithy Forge

The gardens at Doddington Hall will be open daily during the display from 11am to 4.30pm. Those who purchase a dragonfly will receive free entry for two to the display.

Jenny Peake, Supporter Engagement Manager at St Barnabas Hospice, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Doddington Hall and Wrendale Designs on this fantastic project.

Hannah Dale of Wrendale Designs

“Doddington Hall is a beautiful venue and Hannah Dale from Wrendale Designs has managed to capture our little dragonfly in watercolour to support the campaign.”

There is also the option of booking onto a twilight tour.  Each tour will feature a specially lit walk around the gardens where you will hear the tale of the dragonfly. The walk will finish at the dragonfly display where you will be treated to a hot drink as you watch each dragonfly shimmer and glow in the sunset.

A unique chance to experience the dragonfly display at a time when the grounds would normally be closed.

The St Barnabas Wellbeing team will be there to offer free hand massages and provide the opportunity to write a message for your loved one on one of the special message tags to be placed in cherry blossom trees surrounding the display.

To donate for your dragonfly or book a twilight tour and help fund a new children’s bereavement service in Lincolnshire, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dragonfly

“St Barnabas would like to say a big thank you their sponsors for all of their help and support with this campaign:

“Thank you to the Waterside Shopping Centre for their generous contribution in covering the costs of the dragonflies. This means that more of your donation goes straight to patient care.

“Thank you to Doddington Hall for providing a beautiful home for our Dragonfly display. They are providing this stunning space free of charge and also offering free entry to the hall and gardens for those who have donated for a dragonfly, and a plus one.

“Thank you also to Hannah Dale of Wrendale Designs for supporting our campaign with her beautiful artwork. She has created a gorgeous dragonfly illustration just for us and the dragonfly campaign.”