NAOMI House has paid its annual ground rent - a bigger than usual bunch of red roses.

Two-year-old Emily Smith of handed over Naomi House and Jacksplace’s 21st annual rent payment.

Emily Smith, from Collingbourne Ducis, Wiltshire, who has Rett syndrome, her mum, Amy, and dad, Adam, presented the Cornelius-Reid family with the flowers to cover the charity’s rent which is due every Midsummer’s Day.

The tradition dates back to before Naomi House opened in 1997 when Mary Cornelius-Reid allowed a hospice to be built on her land in the Sutton Manor Estate. This offer came with two conditions; that the hospice be named after her youngest daughter Naomi, and that every Midsummer’s Day the hospice pay a peppercorn rent of 12 red roses.

This year, however, to mark the hospices’ 21st Birthday, the rent was increased to 21 roses.

Although Mary Cornelius-Reid died in 2014, staff still honour the tradition by presenting a bouquet of flowers to Mary’s children, including Naomi.

Amy, Emily’s mum, said: “Naomi House helps us spend time together as a family and allows us to spend quality time with Emily’s brothers, Bobby and Edward. When she’s here we know Emily is well-cared for, safe and happy. Emily’s future is unclear, but it is comforting to know that we have support should things get really difficult. It was so nice that she was able to pay the rent this year.”

Mark Smith, chief executive at Naomi House & Jacksplace said: “I would like to thank the Cornelius-Reid family for their ongoing support, and thank Emily and family for paying our rent in this our 21st year. Despite being the day that our rent is due, Midsummer’s Day is a moment we all look forward to as it is an opportunity to celebrate an important part of our history and tradition, as well as a chance to look at how far we have come with the support of the communities we serve.

“I’m delighted that 21 years on, Naomi House & Jacksplace is going from strength to strength, reaching out to more medically complex children and young adults than ever before, and delivering innovative and impactful services that make a real and lasting difference on good days, difficult days and last days.”

Naomi House & Jacksplace are the hospices for children and young adults across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire, West Sussex, Surrey and the Isle of Wight. The charity cares for 325 life-limited or life threatened children, young adults and their families.

The charity opened its first hospice, Naomi House, in 1997 and has cared for more than 1,144 of the most medically complex children and young adults.

l Visit www.naomihouse.org.uk