A TEAM of green-fingered Freemasons has played its part in a garden makeover at Wirral Hospice St John's.

The group, and their hardy wives, joined hospice volunteers for the work, which is part of an ongoing project, last week.

A spokesman for the Freemasons told the Globe: "the weather was not at its kindest.

"In horse-racing terms it's fair to say 'the going was heavy', but this did not deter the volunteers."

Patients and staff at the hospice were delighted to see the team hard at work and thanked them for their efforts.

The aim is to create an attractive 'calm' space in the grounds to improve the health and wellbeing of patients and their families and is being led by Dr Colin Fairclough, a member of Leverhulme Lodge who has supported the Hospice for many years.

Staff have been pleased to allocate a prominent area of its gardens to the Freemasons.

It was the first of many visits the masons will make to Clatterbridge over the coming months as the plot develops into a blooming beautiful garden, which the volunteers have pledged to maintain.

Colin said: "Everyone who works at the Hospice do such an amazing job, we just wanted to show our support.

"If we can bring a smile to the faces of staff, patients and their families at what can be a challenging time for all concerned, then the garden will have done its job.

"Despite the weather, we are pleased with the progress so far".

Helen Parkinson, clinical services manager, leading the project said: "We are so grateful to Colin, his colleagues at Wirral Freemasons and all their wonderful wives for helping us with their expertise and quite a bit of 'muscle' to start off our Garden Makeover Project, 2019.

"On Saturday and Sunday June 29/30 we'll be opening up the hospice gardens to our whole Wirral Community as part of the National Garden Scheme which raises money for a host of charities.

"We will also create a beautiful space for our patients and their families to enjoy and it is with many thanks to Wirral Freemasons for helping us all along the way."