HAREFIELD Hospital has opened four new gardens for patients and staff.
The gardens were created with the help of volunteers, artists and generous funders and have been designed to be accessible to all patients. Smooth surfaces allow easy access on beds or in chairs.
Known as the Rowan Garden, the Healing Garden, the Peace Garden and the ITU garden, these new outdoor spaces aim to enhance the patient and staff experience and will help the NHS reach its target to become carbon-neutral by 2045.
Staff will be encouraged to make use of the gardens on their breaks and many patients will be able to see the gardens from their window if they are not able to get outside.
Arts manager Karen Janody, who helped design the gardens, said: “Harefield has a great history of patients spending time outside for rehabilitation and therapy, and these projects can be part of that legacy.”
Occupational therapist Jennifer Sly added: “The space is lovely – tranquil and full of colour, with a good variety of planting to attract the eye.”
After World War One, Harefield Hospital was used as a sanatorium, specifically for the treatment of tuberculosis.
As the only treatment for TB in the early 20th Century was sunshine and fresh air, the hospital has a long history of making use of its outdoor space.
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