Staff and service users have been nurturing their newly-refurbished garden on Montagu Ward this summer and are now harvesting the fruits of their labours in the form of marrows, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, corn and other vegetables. New raised beds were built in the garden and they are now brimming with a wide range of herbs, flowers and vegetables.
Activity Worker Tom Parnell has been leading the project and said: "We have grown all sort of things in the garden this year. The tomatoes have done really well but we also have rosemary, sweet potatoes, sweetcorn and cabbage and lettuce. We have some service users who really enjoy gardening and have played a special part in looking after the space here."
Tilly Williams, the Psychology Lead for Rehabilitation services said: "It has been wonderful to have the new garden space open this summer, offering a peaceful place to relax as well as opportunities to get involved in horticulture. Gardening can be beneficial in many ways and is a great stepping stone activity for service users, who can go on to join other community gardening projects after leaving hospital.’’
Harnessing the healing power of plants
Staff and service users have been nurturing their newly-refurbished garden on Montagu Ward this summer and are now harvesting the fruits of their labours in the form of marrows, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, corn and other vegetables.
New raised beds were built in the garden and they are now brimming with a wide range of herbs, flowers and vegetables.
Activity Worker Tom Parnell has been leading the project and said: "We have grown all sort of things in the garden this year. The tomatoes have done really well but we also have rosemary, sweet potatoes, sweetcorn and cabbage and lettuce. We have some service users who really enjoy gardening and have played a special part in looking after the space here."
Tilly Williams, the Psychology Lead for Rehabilitation services said: "It has been wonderful to have the new garden space open this summer, offering a peaceful place to relax as well as opportunities to get involved in horticulture. Gardening can be beneficial in many ways and is a great stepping stone activity for service users, who can go on to join other community gardening projects after leaving hospital.’’