The team that tends the gardens at Hampton Court Palace has donated £4,515 to the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher.

The team of 40, who are responsible for cultivating the grounds of Henry VIII’s palace all year round, raised the cash through various ways.

They held cake sales, a big Christmas raffle, a barbecue, sponsored runs and walks, and also sold around 100 hanging baskets to fellow staff at the palace.

Many members of the team had personal connections to the Hospice, through friends and relatives being cared for as inpatients or by the ‘Hospice At Home’ service.

Hospice Senior Partnership Fundraiser Claire Woodward, who collected the cheque, said: “The gardening team’s camaraderie and friendliness shines through.

“The Hospice has an ongoing need for funds, the vast majority of which we rely on via donations from the community.

"This will go towards helping provide free end of life care to those who need it.”