HUNDREDS of delicate snowdrop flower sculptures fill the city's library gardens creating a place of reflection.

St Richard's Hospice launched its 2024 celebration garden made up of 900 handcrafted snowdrop flower sculptures which are on display in the gardens of The Hive.

Volunteers and sponsors spent over an hour carefully placing every snowdrop into the garden on Friday (August 9).

Debbie Westwood, care director at St Richard's Hospice, said: "It's a place for reflection where people can come and celebrate their loved ones.

"People can go online and donate any amount that they wish and, when the celebration garden comes to an end, they can take one of these sculptures away as a keepsake."

Ed Alvis sculpted each snowdrop by hand at his workshop, Met Art UK, near Evesham.

He said: "I've been working on this pretty solidly for a couple of months now.

"This is the fourth year I've been involved in the project.

"I lost my father in 2013 and St Richard's did a lot to help me then so it's very close to my heart.

"I love to get involved. They ask me every year to do it and I consider it an honour."

While the snowdrop is the hospice's floral emblem, Mrs Westwood explained it was also picked by the organisers for another reason.

She said: "We've chosen the snowdrop as it is the first to flower after winter so it symbolises hope and new beginnings."

To help with funding, Blue Print Direct Mail and Jackson Funeral Directors have sponsored the event.

A spokesperson from Jackson Funeral Directors, said: "We have a lot of connections with St Richard's Hospice due to the nature of our profession.

"It's a really nice gesture about trying to remember everybody and everything that they've gone through."

Emily Gicquel is dedicating a snowdrop to her mum who was cared for by the hospice five years ago.

Ms Gicquel said: "When my mum spent her last five days at St Richard’s myself and my children, Olivia and James, learned what a good death looked like.

"We found a place where an amazing team makes magical memories every day and we made a promise to ourselves that we’d help make sure that care continues for others."

The flowers will be on display until Monday, August 26.

To donate to St Richard's Hospice and the celebration garden, visit their website here.