Unique tribute to loved ones with hospice’s Dragonfly Meadow at Sandringham estate

Commemorative steel dragonflies will once again adorn the grounds of West Norfolk’s royal estate, raising vital funds for free hospice care.

A total of 4,000 handcrafted steel dragonflies will be installed at Sandringham this summer with each representing a life, a memory and a story of a loved one.

Installed between August 21 and September 14, the display forms part of The Norfolk Hospice’s 40th anniversary celebrations, honouring four decades of care, compassion, and support for families across Norfolk and North Cambridgeshire.

Created in partnership with the Sandringham estate and master blacksmith Nigel Barnett from Fransham Forge, the installation will transform a section of the gardens into a sweeping display of dragonflies.

Each sculpture, measuring approximately seven inches wide and standing around three feet tall, will become part of a unique and moving tribute of reflection and remembrance. Each dragonfly costs £36.50 and you can reserve your own limited-edition dragonfly in memory of someone dear.

A spokesperson for the Hillington-based hospice said: “Your tribute will join thousands of others in this shared celebration of love and life.

“After the installation concludes, your dragonfly will be yours to keep - a lasting symbol of remembrance for your home or garden.

“Each is affixed to a steel pole, allowing for easy placement. Dragonflies can be collected from the hospice or posted directly to you.”

Supporting the Dragonfly Meadow will help the hospice continue to deliver its essential care at home, within the hospice at it’s Wheatfields base and through a wide range of support services.

The hospice is reliant on public support as it receives less that 25 per cent of its funding from the government.

“This year, the cost of providing our care will reach £6.4 million. We must raise £4.8 million through fundraising to ensure our patients receive the support they truly deserve,” the spokesperson said.

Through community support, £40 will pay for one therapy session at the hospice’s Tulip Centre; £100 will cover the cost of six hours of care from a palliative nursing assistant and £700 will pay for one day of specialist inpatient care.

Victoria Rush, head of fundraising, said: “Each dragonfly is a deeply personal tribute. It represents someone loved, someone missed, and someone remembered. It’s also a beautiful keepsake - a symbol of peace and comfort for all those we care for. We invite everyone to join us in creating a moment of beauty and reflection this summer.”

Outpatient Karen Flinders has described her experience at Tapping House and said: “The hospice, out of all my support, has been the biggest support. Everyone thinks hospices are about death, but they’re not. Far from it. They are places of life, joy, and celebration.

“Yes, I’m getting 30 fewer years than I should have, but the last two years have been amazing - and that’s thanks to the hospice.”

The dragonfly has been chosen not only as a symbol of remembrance but of resilience and transformation.

“The dragonfly reminds us to embrace each moment and carry forward the love of those we’ve lost,” said the spokesperson.

Reserve your dragonfly at: www.tappinghouse.org.uk/events/dragonflymeadow or call 01485 601701, or email the fundraising team at: fundraisingteam@tappinghouse.org.uk