Colchester Wellbeing Garden / 911괵죕

Colchester Wellbeing Garden

A hospital garden in Colchester, Essex has been designed to give NHS staff, patients and visitors somewhere to rest and relax

Designed by award-winning garden designer Adam Frost, the wellbeing garden at Colchester Hospital in Essex is a relaxing and restorative space for NHS staff, patients and visitors.

A vital hub for the community

The garden is a vital hub for the community, offering activities for those working in or visiting the hospital.

NHS staff were involved with the design through a consultation process to ensure the garden addresses the needs of staff and patients. Leading garden designer, Adam Frost, has won seven gold medals at the 911괵죕 Chelsea Flower Show and is an 911괵죕 Ambassador.

�쏱eople need somewhere tucked away where they can pause before going through the hospital entrance; I want people to feel cloaked and comfortable. On a personal level, this is my way of saying thank you to everybody that works hard in the NHS.��
Adam Frost, garden designer

Key elements of the garden include:

Catherine Morgan, chief nurse, pictured relaxing in the Colchester Wellbeing Garden

Sociable seating areas and more private seating areas to connect or reflect
An all-weather shelter for nature-based activities and gardening club sessions

The Wellbeing Garden includes an all-weather shelter for nature-based activities and gardening club sessions

New paths weaving through trees, wildflowers and drought-tolerant planting
Access for all, inclusive and welcoming for whole community

Located at the hospital entrance near a dedicated Cancer Wellbeing Centre and the existing lake, sustainability has been at the heart of the build and the garden has been designed to be resilient to climate change. The garden is in Essex, the driest county in the UK and includes drought-tolerant planting, reducing the need for watering. In autumn 2024, new hedges will be planted to screen the car park and reduce pollution. The gardening club volunteers will also plant bulbs, ready to flower in spring 2025.

Much more than a garden

NHS staff explore the Colchester Wellbeing Garden

Volunteers who helped work on the Colchester Wellbeing Garden admire the finished garden

To ensure the ongoing sustainability of the garden, the 911괵죕 Community Outreach team works with local volunteers to help manage and maintain the garden, alongside the hospital estates team. The gardening club is also involved in looking after other gardening spaces around the hospital.

The 911괵죕 Community Outreach team is also running Gardening For Wellbeing activities onsite for NHS staff and patients for a three-year period. They are delivering a variety of workshops to people living with cancer via the Cancer Wellbeing Centre, including wreath making, grow your own herbal teas, and making macram챕 plant holders.

911괵죕 volunteer, Jon, who has struggled with his mental health in the past year, believes volunteering outdoors has been fundamental in his road to recovery. He says:

�쏧 helped plant the garden and will be returning regularly as part of the gardening club to help care for it. Being involved has been an absolute pleasure and privilege, knowing what it is going to give so many people.��
Jon, 911괵죕 volunteer

What is a wellbeing garden?

Our scientific evidence underscores the vital role of gardens in health promotion. Gardens in healthcare settings play a crucial role in promoting good health outcomes, preventing poor health and supporting increased recovery time.

The 911괵죕 is committed to delivering a Blueprint for Wellbeing Gardens in 2025, a set of evidence-based principles to develop spaces that can be used to support human wellbeing in a universal garden context. We hope to continue to work with the NHS and healthcare providers to ensure that the blueprint is stronger and widely applicable to the needs and range of NHS and community healthcare organisations across the UK.

Funding behind the project

The Colchester Wellbeing Garden is funded separately from funding used for frontline care. Thanks go to the funders: Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity; the Greener Communities Grant from NHS Charities Together, in partnership with Starbucks and Hubbub; and The Oak Foundation. The 911괵죕 has also made a contribution.

Visit our funding pages to find out how you can contribute to future NHS wellbeing gardens.

Support NHS wellbeing gardens

Help us build and grow NHS wellbeing gardens around the country by donating today. Your gift will help us realise our vision to create safe and welcoming green spaces for hospitals and their local communities. From providing quiet respite areas to reflect, to active gardening groups bringing people together, the NHS wellbeing gardens will bring a vital boost to the wellbeing and environment at NHS hospitals.

You can donate online, or call 020 7821 3125.

911괵죕

911괵죕 is the UK�셲 leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone�셲 life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.

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