Hospital patients can garden in new outdoor space
The garden was created with the help of hospital staff and volunteers
Maisie Lillywhite
BBC News, Somerset
Patients are now able to garden during their treatment at a hospital that is celebrating its 10th birthday.
A new garden to mark the anniversary of Bridgwater Community Hospital was officially opened by the town’s Mayor, Jacqui Solomon, on Thursday.
The “great accessibility feature” of raised beds allows patients to garden during treatment.
It was planted following contributions from the Somerset NHS charity, Bridgwater Hospital League of Friends, Bradfords, and Wrencon Ltd.
‘Sights, colour and smells’
It is located on the first floor of the hospital and links to the existing garden beneath it.
Norma Coombes, who was the hospital’s senior matron for more than nine years, came up with the idea after spotting an advert for landscaper Jenny Short, who designed the garden.
Ms Coombes thanked those who donated and the trust’s estates team, who installed the “very important outside tap” to ensure the plants get watered.
“It’s great to celebrate this anniversary of the hospital and the garden will be a permanent fixture for colleagues and patients to enjoy, with all the different sights, colour and smells throughout the year,” she said.
The garden features a tribute to former hotel services lead, Carol Agnew, who died a few years ago.
“Colleagues at the hospital raised some money to purchase a bench in her memory, which takes pride of place in the garden,” Ms Coombes said.
A coffee morning, run by Bridgwater Hospital League of Friends, was held alongside the grand opening.
The planting was done by Ms Coombes, ward sister Donna Mellor, and a small team of helpers.
Clematis, cyclamens, pansies, aquilegia, and sedums all feature in the raised beds.
Eddie Marsh, a member of Bridgwater League of Friends, said: “It was well worth the effort and it’s a real bonus for the patients who already like sitting up on the patio.
“In the summer, it will be a real oasis of calm.”
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