For ward manager Hayleigh Austin-Richards of Chapel Allerton’s stroke rehabilitation unit in Leeds, the hospital’s "Garden for Recovery" is more than just a respite. Established for the Chelsea Flower Show, this therapeutic space offers her a refuge from the high-stakes, emotionally demanding work of caring for stroke victims. She believes a calming walk can help her decompress and return to her duties with renewed vigor and focus.
The importance of green spaces for mental health is being increasingly recognized, and following high levels of stress among NHS staff, healthcare institutions are now turning to outdoor environments for support. In recent months, 16 NHS hospitals have reached out to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) for guidance in creating wellness gardens beneficial for staff, patients, and visitors.
These gardens suggest a holistic approach to healthcare, increasing the awareness of tangible health benefits associated with interacting with nature. Managers are coming to understand that well-designed outdoor areas are not just pretty additions, but essential for emotional well-being.
Chapel Allerton’s well-being garden was inaugurated last year, and its establishment comes at a time when mental health challenges abound, exacerbated by the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dame Linda Pollard, chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, recognizes that the traditional staff rooms are ill-suited for stress relief and is inviting the RHS to develop a well-being garden at St James’s University Hospital to address these concerns.
Victoria Shearing, the RHS’ wellbeing garden program manager, affirms that these gardens are not just aesthetically pleasing but provide places of solace and contemplation. With evidence showing that gardens can positively impact mental health, the RHS is pioneering a design blueprint for such spaces.
The trend is already gaining traction, with initial feedback from University Hospital Lewisham suggesting that 70% of staff survey respondents have reported improved wellbeing. Designed by former BBC’s Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost, these gardens feature diverse plantings that offer sensory engagement and a constant source of natural interest.
For healthcare professionals like Austin-Richards and their patients, these gardens are more than mere escapes; they are restorative environments crucial to the healing and therapeutic process. By integrating nature-based solutions into healthcare settings, hospitals not only enhance mental wellbeing but also offer tangible respite in places where it is needed the most.
