Work to start soon on therapeutic garden at hospital

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Work on a therapeutic garden at the Priestley unit, Dewsbury and District hospital, that has been designed with the help of local people, is to start in December.

Funding for the garden has been secured from the King’s Fund charity, who were impressed with the way the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust has involved local people, service users and carers in the design and planning of the garden.

A consultation event took place in July this year and local people, NHS staff, service users and carers were invited to have their say on how the garden should look.

During the consultation people said they wanted the garden to use natural materials so seating and water features are to be made out of wood and stone. The centre piece of the garden is to be a wooden sculpture that has been designed by a service user.

Member of the garden project team Glynnis Stirling says, "We want to create a calming environment to encourage people to go outside. The garden will be for inpatients, outpatients, visitors, carers and staff to sit and relax.

The garden will be very calming and we will use soothing flowers like lavender, mood-enhancing lighting and there will be discreet areas for people to sit. Evidence from the King’s Fund charity suggests that a pleasant, relaxing environment encourages the healing process,"

It is hoped that the garden will be completed by the end of May next year.

Work to start soon on therapeutic garden at hospital

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