A 7ft Easter Bunny has been spreading seasonal joy across Gravesend in a week-long community campaign, launched by Springwood Corner Care Home, the newest addition to the Avery Healthcare Group.
The Easter trail began on Friday 18th April, with the Springwood Bunny making surprise visits to Willow, Rosewood, and Linden wards at Darent Valley Hospital, where it delighted both patients and NHS staff by distributing Easter eggs and goodie bags.
Mark Cullen, Community Fundraising Manager at the hospital, shared his appreciation, “The team brought big, broad smiles and bags of Easter eggs to our patients and staff. Thank you for spreading a huge amount of Easter cheer.”
The Springwood Bunny was brought to life by Nic Fiddaman, a retired primary school headteacher who, after overcoming health challenges and receiving life-saving treatment at Darent Valley Hospital, wanted to give back.
Nic, who is the partner of Ami, Client Liaison Manager at Springwood Corner, volunteered to dress as the Bunny and spread joy to the staff and patients who had made a difference in his life.
Thanks to a generous donation from Morrisons Gravesend, an additional 60 Easter eggs were handed out, ensuring even more smiles were shared throughout the community.
On Saturday 19th April, the Springwood Bunny hopped into Gravesend High Street, where it greeted shoppers, visited charity shops, and stopped by the local library, spreading kindness and cheer with every hop.
On Monday 21st April, the Bunny made a special appearance at Chichester Rise Retirement Complex, where residents gathered for lunch and received Easter treats, in partnership with Gravesham Borough Council.
The Bunny’s final stop will be on Thursday 24th April at the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Services Day Centre, where it will join a local nursery for a heart-warming intergenerational Easter celebration.
“I’m really proud of what we’re achieving at Springwood Corner and how we’re giving back to the local community,” said Daniel Bridges, Home Manager at Springwood Corner Care Home. “The Easter cheer the team has shared is wonderful, and the connections we’re building are genuinely meaningful. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming everyone to our new home when it opens this summer.”
Springwood Corner Care Home, located in Gravesend’s Riverview Park area, is set to open in summer 2025.
This purpose-built home will offer 62 en-suite bedrooms, providing specialist residential, dementia, and respite care.
It will also feature modern amenities such as a cinema, café, salon, and landscaped gardens, all designed to promote wellbeing, independence, and community connection.
The home will create a significant number of new jobs for the local area, making it a valuable addition to the Gravesend community.
For enquiries or to book a viewing, call 01474 240218 or click here.
