Dorset Sunflower Trail raises £16,300 for new emergency unit

The Maiden Castle Farm Sunflower Trail is organised by the Hoskin family, who plant seeds on the site in Dorchester every year to raise funds for charity. 

READ MORE: Reporter visits Maiden Castle Sunflower Trail, Dorchester

A total of £16,300 was raised from this year's trail, which will go towards Dorset County Hospital (DCH) Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care appeal.

This also brings the amount raised by Dorset Sunflower Trails for Dorset County Hospital (DCH) over the years to an amazing £63,000.

Hazel Hoskin (centre) with son Thomas Hoskin (left) and Simon Pearson, Head of Charity (right) at Sunflowers presentation event (Image: Dorset County Hospital) Hazel Hoskin said: "We were determined to smash through the £50,000 mark this year for the total we’ve been able to donate to Dorset County Hospital through our sunflower events to date.

"We want to thank everyone who came to visit the Dorset Sunflower Trail and also those who took part in the associated events.

"We love having the public come to see what we’re doing on the farm – it’s our way of giving something back for the incredible care our family has received from Dorset County Hospital over the years.”

Maiden Castle Sunflower Trail 2024 (Image: Hollie Carr) In total more than 11,000 people visited the Dorset Sunflower Trail this summer, joining in with events such as the sundowner evenings, story time and pilates. 

Money was also raised by Art in Poundbury and a number of local businesses in and around Dorchester, as well as through initiatives managed by Dorchester Town Council.

READ MORE: Art in Poundbury's Art in the Sunflowers project a success

This is the fourth year that the Hoskin family has supported the hospital.

An artist painting at Maiden Castle farm for the Art in Poundbury art project (Image: Art in Poundbury) The first trail in 2021 funded cerebral monitoring equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), the 2022 event raised funds for the Kingfisher Children’s Ward, as well as for a children’s hospital in Ukraine. In 2023 the trail raised a further £15,400 which is being used to improve family facilities on the SCBU.

A special thank you celebration was held in DCH’s Damers restaurant with a number of specially invited guests. Simon Pearson, Head of Charity was asked to pick the winning tickets for the Sunflower raffle which has been running throughout the summer.

Hazel Hoskin and supporters at Sunflowers presentation event (Image: Dorset County Hospital) Vicky Hunt, Fundraising Officer for Dorset County Hospital Charity, said: “This is an amazing achievement by Hazel and her family and we are very grateful that we received her support for another year."

Mr Pearson said: “Hazel is an inspiration. This is an extraordinary level of support which will benefit so many patients including babies and children, now and for years to come."

In October last year, the hospital trust received planning approval to build a new multi-million-pound Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit.

A £2.5M Capital Appeal was launched to raise funds for enhanced facilities as well as artistically designed elements to help create a sympathetic and healing environment in both units.

More information about the appeal can be found on the Dorset County Hospital charity website: https://dchcharity.org.uk/