Patients, colleagues and volunteers will reap the benefits from Clifton Hospital’s Green Therapy project

A new gardening project has recently been unveiled at Clifton Hospital, providing facilities for green therapy that will benefit patients, families, hospital colleagues and volunteers.

The creation of a paved area, planting areas and a polytunnel will facilitate year-round horticultural therapy to improve health and wellbeing. Sensory planting including grasses and lavender will complement raised beds and the fully paved environment ensure accessibility for all.  Fruit such as figs and grapes will be grown in the polytunnel where accessible staging will allow people to work comfortably. It’s hoped that patients and volunteers will bring their own ideas for further planting with plenty of growing space left to inspire people to grow what they want, encouraging everyone to take ownership and enjoy the wellbeing benefits.

Dr Heather Catt, Public Health Consultant based at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals said “This is a starter project which we’ve worked on for two years to bring in horticultural therapy for patients and colleagues where they can create green spaces and support biodiversity”.

The project, funded by Place Based VCFSE Grants (Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise), via the Lancashire and South Cumbria Community Mental Health Transformation Fund which was managed by  Spring North.  Lancashire-based road surfacing company Multipave Ltd, installed paving without charge as part of their social value programme, freeing up more of the project’s funding to support growing activities.

The charity Groundwork will deliver weekly nature therapy sessions at Clifton over the coming months, led by horticulturalist Angela Nagorski.

Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Trust volunteer Kathryn Davies who currently assists the Trust’s readers panel, said “It’s just fabulous, not only is gardening very therapeutic but local growing is the way forward and I’m keen to help out myself as I have lots of growing knowledge that I’d be happy to share”.

Groundwork’s Director of Communities, Jon Hutchinson said,

“The benefits of nature connectedness on wellbeing are well researched and Groundwork’s experience of delivering horticultural therapy shows significant health benefits to individuals participating. The opportunity to work with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals to implement this project within a hospital setting is unique. The Green Therapy garden at Clifton Hospital will become a hive of activity for local people to come together, get outdoors and participate in nature based activity. We hope that the garden becomes a central hub of activity - used by patients, staff, volunteers and wider community members. The opportunity to continue support to patients’ post-discharge at our community farm Grow Blackpool will provide continuity in nature engagement and should enhance wellbeing benefits within the community setting.”

Sarah Senior, Acting Managing Director of Atlas said, 'We are delighted to support the Green Therapy Project. It fits with our aspirations to support our local community, to work with patients and staff to grow our own stock and to provide our Apprentices within the Grounds and Garden Team with the opportunity to learn new skills.' 

If you’ve been inspired by this project, why not get involved? We are looking for more volunteers to help us with the Green Therapy garden. If you’d like to find out more please contact Catherine Henshaw, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals’ volunteers manager bfwh.volunteers@nhs.net