Gardens in bloom across NCH&C | Latest news

 

Gardens at hospitals and health centres across NCH&C are fully in bloom, offering a serene and therapeutic space for patients, staff, and visitors. 

 

These green spaces play an important role in promoting health and wellness within our hospitals. As well as providing a quiet place to relax, many of our gardens are used by health teams to deliver gardening therapies and hold celebration events. They even play host to miniature donkey visits!

 

But maintaining our large group of hospital gardens is no easy feat. The NCH&C charitable team spends hours helping out, funding equipment and overseeing various garden projects. We also rely on volunteers, community groups and generous donations to keep our green spaces looking fabulous.

 

Already this year the charitable team have:

• Funded gardening equipment and tools at Wymondham Health Centre.

• Jet-washed the courtyard, removed a stubborn tree stump and funded three large, raised beds and a greenhouse at Caroline House. Plus seeds and plants to encourage patients in wheelchairs to use the space.

• Taken delivery of eight pallets of very heavy bags of bark (and had to move them all!)

• Arranged for the clearance of the garden and pond area at Parkview, while ensuring that the resident ducks still had a place to nest.

• Ordered benches for staff at Kelling Simpson centre and Mill Close.

• Gave Fledglings staff a picnic bench and planter for their rest area.

• Worked with volunteer gardener at Foxley ward to purchase planters and plants for the staff courtyards.

• Organised volunteer days for hard-working teams from Crown Commercial and Aviva.

• Purchased new gardening equipment for volunteers who tend the gardens at Kelling Hospital.

• Taken delivery of two wooden benches for the Mulberry garden at Norwich. Community Hospital. These were kindly donated by Cherry Lane Garden Centre.

• Hosted a visit from Mini Donkeys for Wellbeing at Caroline House.

Research has consistently shown that green spaces can significantly enhance mental well-being and reduce stress in patients. For our dedicated staff, these gardens also offer a quiet space to snatch a moment of relaxation amidst their busy day.

 

We’re always in need of support for our green spaces. You could fundraise for us, recruit a gardening volunteer, or perhaps donate plants, seeds, bulbs or gardening equipment? Gardening also makes for a great team building activity!

 

Drop the charitable team a line at charitablefund@nchc.nhs.uk if you could spare a few hours to help out in your local hospital garden.