60 seconds with ... our volunteer gardener Petronella Baynes
What first inspired you to volunteer with us, and what encourages you to continue?
When I retired, after doing many different jobs, I knew I wanted to give something back. I love gardening and I enjoy being around young people, so I started looking for opportunities. I found an advert to volunteer in the Bumblebee Ward garden at Hillingdon Hospital, and it sounded perfect - gardening, helping young people, tick, tick, tick.
When I arrived, I was asked by the Head of Volunteers' predecessor, Marcy Madzikanda, to help maintain three gardens across the hospital: Bumblebee Ward, Rehab and Beaconsfield. The Bumblebee Ward garden temporarily closed, but I continued working in the other areas because gardening brings me so much joy and has always been brilliant for my mental health. I thought, if I can give that same feeling to others, how lovely would that be?
What keeps me going is the feedback. Staff and patients are always telling me how much they enjoy the gardens. At Beaconsfield in particular, people regularly comment on how nice it looks. I can see the results, and I can see that it genuinely helps.
Your support directly benefits patients and staff. How does that feel?
It feels wonderful. We're all part of a community. You give something and you get something back - it's mutual. It benefits me as much as it benefits others, which is a real win‑win.
Is there any feedback that has stayed with you?
Staff often give me a thumbs‑up through the window, and patients sometimes come out to chat. They ask about the plants and tell me a little bit about themselves. It's all very friendly and very nice.
What keeps you motivated, even on tough days?
I'm the sort of person who, if I say I'm going to do something, I will do it. There's no point doing things halfway. Either I do it properly or I don't do it at all. That's what motivates me.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Probably the fact that I don't have a boss. I love what I'm doing and I'm given the freedom to get on with it, which suits my personality. I used to run departments and had wonderful staff, and I can be part of a team if needed, but I also really enjoy working independently.
The Rehab garden, for instance, is beautifully designed, so part of my role is maintaining it, which is still a big job.
How does volunteering make you feel?
Volunteering gives me purpose and excitement. I love projects, so I'm always thinking about the next thing I could do. There's always something new to work on.
At the moment, I look after the Beaconsfield and Rehab gardens, along with a small green space at the Bereavement Suite that I designed. I visit around once a month to keep everything maintained, which keeps me busy.
If you had one superpower, what would it be?
Invisibility crossed my mind - just being a fly on the wall - but I'd probably choose to have eight arms. That way I could multitask: one arm deadheading, one mowing. They would have to be long arms too. It would certainly help with the gardening.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I really enjoy creating displays in the large plant tubs at Beaconsfield. One is under an awning, so I started putting seasonal arrangements in it - Christmas, Easter and New Year. People really loved them, so now I create displays in the other tubs as well so patients can see them through the window.
At the moment, I'm working on creating a cherry blossom‑style display for Easter using branches from my allotment. It keeps me creative and gives me something new to focus on - although eight arms would definitely help!