A new sensory courtyard garden has been opened at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).
Dorset County Hospital Charity received over £50,000 from the Greener Communities Fund – a partnership between NHS Charities Together and the environmental charity Hubbub, supported by Starbucks – to turn the disused courtyard opposite Special Care Dentistry into a garden for patients, staff and visitors.
The Greener Communities Fund supports the creation or improvement of green spaces to benefit people’s health and wellbeing.
The planting plan for the garden was carefully designed to stimulate people’s senses, featuring a mixture of fragrant flowers, shrubs and plants. Wooden benches have been installed, and the ground has been made level too for disabled access.
More plants will be added to the garden over the coming weeks and months, and additional planters will be installed – including a wheelchair accessible planter.
The project has been made possible thanks to the support of several local organisations. Bev Lagden, Sustainability Manager at Dorset County Hospital said:
“We are delighted with this new space and hope that people will be able to spend some time in a peaceful garden that stimulates their senses.
“A big thank you to Kingston Maurward College, Dorset Build, Dorchester Men’s Shed, Dobbies Garden Centre and patients and staff for their support in creating the garden.”
Students from Kingston Maurward College designed the garden. Garden Design Lecturer Michelle Brown said:
“This has been such a great project for our students. It gave them the chance to design, plan and create a garden outside of college within a real work environment. They have considered those that would be using the space to make sure it caters to their needs. We are really pleased with the result and look forward to adding more to the space in the future.”
Jo Howarth, Director of Nursing at Dorset County Hospital, said: “I’m thrilled that we have been able to turn a disused outdoor space into a beautiful sensory garden.
“Whether you’re a patient, staff member or visiting a loved one, it’s important to be able to step away from the busy, and sometimes overwhelming, hospital environment and take a moment. We want to use our outdoor spaces to support people’s physical and mental wellbeing, and I hope the new sensory garden provides a moment of calm for those who use it.”
Jon Goodwin, Head of Grants at NHS Charities Together, said: “There’s a strong link between spending time outdoors and improved health and wellbeing. That’s why, through our Greener Communities Fund, delivered in partnership with Hubbub and funded by Starbucks, we are improving access to quality green spaces in healthcare settings and beyond.
“These projects play an important role in our wider commitment to help improve the health of NHS patients, staff, and communities, and in turn reduce the pressure on overstretched NHS services. We very much look forward to hearing how Dorset County Hospital visitors benefit from this vibrant and accessible new garden and are grateful to everyone who made it possible.”
The garden space
• (From left) Michelle Brown and Sara Bester from Kingston Maurward College, Sam Caldwell from NHS Charities Together and Nick Johnson, Chief Strategy, Transformation and Partnerships Officer at DCH.