On 14 February, new recruit Will O'Burn joins Team Willow Burn following a number of misdemeanours in the hospice gardens.
Willow Burn Hospice is renowned for it's beautiful gardens but over the years there has been a mystery surrounding our disappearing roses. We have had our suspicions for some time but early in 2025 we found the culprit, when he came to our door with a completed volunteer application form to say sorry for eating our special flowers. 
Mr O'Burn said: "My name is Will O'Burn and my family and I live in the Willow Burn Gardens. We just love to eat roses, all of the roses we can find but we've heard it makes the Willow Burn gardeners and visitors sad. So to say sorry for our snacking, I have signed up as the newest recruit to the Volunteering Team. Will O'Burn... at your service."
Will O'Burn has joined the team at Willow Burn to break down barriers for children and young people when visiting the hospice with a loved one, joining us as a member of the community or when accessing bereavement counselling. Not only will he help to fundraise and raise awareness but he will bring smiles and positivity to everyone who meets him.
When the team at Willow Burn decided to introduce a mascot to the brand, friend of the hospice Helen Heath was their first choice of illustrator (Helen and her family pictured below with Will). Helen has created Will O'Burn in memory of her lovely mum, Eileen Turner. You can read Helen and Eileen's story here: read
With a BA (Honours) in Graphic Design from Nottingham Trent University, Helen developed a strong eye for colour, layout, handlettering and visual hierarchy—skills that naturally flow into her passion for illustration. She has collaborated with top publishers like Bloomsbury, Orchard Books, Egmont, and Scholastic. Beyond commissions, Helen teaches design and illustration, lead workshops, and co-runs a greetings brand established in 2013.
Keep visiting the Willow Burn website, Facebook page and Will O'Burn's very own group to see what he is up to and how you can help him out.
Illustrated by Helen - https://www.illustratedbyhelen.co.uk/
