Guests gathered at the Holy Cross Hospital in Hindhead Road for the official opening of its new treehouse.

It comes after more than three years since a friend of a patient at the hospital launched a fundraising appeal to build the wheelchair-accessible treehouse, so patients could enjoy the woodland setting.

Following some epic fundraising feats – including a walk in the Antarctic Circle and a cycle ride from Greenwich to Portugal – and some very generous donations, the dream has now been realised.

Dr Karin Englehart, who chairs the hospital’s advisory committee, thanked the patients’ friends and donors to the project.

Dr Julie Llewelyn (below), High Sheriff of Surrey and an NHS doctor, described Holy Cross as a “magnificent facility”, adding: “I rarely see facilities as good as this.

“The patients are obviously extremely well looked after. It is always the people who work in an institution who make a difference and Holy Cross has some superstars.

“I have never seen such a good treehouse and I am sure it will be used by many.”