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Work on transforming Peterborough City Hospital’s £40,000 staff reflection garden is now underway – with NHS workers already reaping the benefits.

 

 

The project has been carefully designed by Jennie Grainger – Lead Volunteer Gardener at the Trusts’ Peterborough Cancer Wellbeing Service – and is funded by the North West Anglia Hospitals’ Charity as part of its commitment to the wellbeing and positive mental health of staff.

 

Against backdrop of mild weather and nature’s rich autumn colours, the first in a series of specially designed all-weather Pods - perfect for lunchtime get-togethers, breaks or informal meetings - have been installed and are ready to be used.

 

 

In addition, creative planting schemes, innovative seating and meeting spaces - along with a stunning focal point designed to remember Trust colleagues who have passed away - will transform the current staff garden area over the coming weeks and months.

 

The work will bring the Peterborough staff garden in line with those currently completed at Stamford & Rutland Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon.

 

 Other features of the fully accessible reflection garden will include:  

 

·        Carefully-selected all year-round planting, containers and raised beds. 

·        Italian Cypress trees planted in large, recycled fibre glass containers, aged to look like metal.

·        A mini orchard area of five fruit trees.

·        A specially designed and hand created memorial focal point – including a unique handmade sculpture by local metal artist Jeni Cairns. This will also allow staff to hang handmade metal leaves to it, engraved with their colleagues’ name, in their memory.

 

North West Anglia Hospitals’ Charity Project Manager, Philip Fearn said: “We had some feedback from staff about the existing memorial garden and took on board their thoughts about how this could be elevated to make it not only a reflective space to remember colleagues who have passed away, but also creating a beautiful, tranquil and functional space.”

 

 

Peterborough City Hospital also has an outdoor seating area for use by patients and visitors, located at the end of the main Atrium near the pharmacy. The public seating areas was given a facelift this summer, thanks to charity funding to provide colourful parasols and picnic tables which have been widely used.

 

Pic cap: 

Jennie Grainger – Lead Volunteer Gardener and Staff Reflection Garden designer – with some of the Wood Wizards team installing the pods at Peterborough City Hospital.