Caring Garden opens at Fieldhead

A garden that can be enjoyed by everyone at the Fieldhead site in Wakefield is now open.

Work on the Caring Garden began in March 2011 with a fruit tree planting session involving members of the steering group and the Trust’s chief executive Steven Michael.

Since then the land has been developed into a multi-use space for visitors to Fieldhead to enjoy as well as staff and service users. As well as a selection of fruit trees the garden includes growing patches for services based at Fieldhead and also groups from the community to grow their own vegetables and flowers. Flowers grown in the ‘Flower Power’ garden will then be given to wards. As well as the gardens there is a seating area where people can sit and enjoy the garden and a log cabin, which will provide a social hub for everyone who uses the caring garden.

The garden was officially opened by the Trust’s director of corporate development Dawn Stephenson in September 2011, who was joined by service users and carers. After the opening people were invited to take part in a number of activity taster sessions such as bulb planting, Tai Chi and Nordic walking.

Speaking about the project Dawn Stephenson, said:

“We were extremely excited to open the garden and mark the start of it’s use. The project group has aimed to create a space that can help improve the health and wellbeing of service users, staff and visitors at Fieldhead and we hope they’ll enjoy it as much as we have creating it. We know from research that as well as providing a pleasant environment, gardens can benefit our mental wellbeing, by helping to reduce stress and anxiety. The trees and garden area will also help increase biodiversity on the site and increase access to green space. We look forward to seeing service users and staff as well as community groups enjoying the space. “

The final stage of the development is now underway and will see the completion of a landscaped labyrinth at the top of the site. This will be surrounded by plants arranged into beds themed by the four seasons and tranquil seating areas.