Trust’s caring garden at Fieldhead awarded gold by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

The caring garden at Fieldhead, a cherished community space developed through the Creative Minds initiative, has proudly received the prestigious gold award from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. This recognition highlights the garden’s exceptional contribution to local wildlife and its positive impact on the community.

One of the first projects from Creative Minds, the caring garden has flourished thanks to the collaboration between the museum team and dedicated volunteers. Over the years, it has become a welcoming habitat for various species and a peaceful retreat for visitors to Fieldhead Hospital in Wakefield.

The garden aims to create positive life experiences focusing on improving health and wellbeing, self-esteem, confidence and bringing different communities together. This project has given a huge boost to our service users who can struggle with conventional services, coming to the garden has increased their confidence and reduced social isolation.

It also gives service users an outdoor environment and the opportunity to work as a team, gain new skills and participate in new positive activities as well as growing produce which they can later cook and eat. The garden has brought groups to Fieldhead who would not normally come, thus de-stigmatising the site, this includes the very popular forest skills sessions.

Phil Walters, Creative Minds strategic lead, said: ‘‘The project owes much of its success to the hard work of Tom and Dave from the Trust’s facilities team, who constructed numerous bug hotels, bird boxes, and feeders. As well as Jackie who expertly guided the award application process.’’

Jo Rawson, community engagement manager at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Your garden is a wonderful place for wildlife. It’s fabulous to see everything you’ve done to make your garden such a haven for wildlife. Your actions are making a valuable contribution to creating a wilder Yorkshire.”

The team recently received a commemorative plaque and is planning a small unveiling event to celebrate this milestone. They intend to invite supporters and community members who have played a part in the project’s journey, recognising the collective effort behind the garden’s success.