New wellbeing garden thanks to League of Friends
Colwyn Bay Hospital’s once glorious gardens are being restored and transformed into a wellbeing garden for the benefit of patients and staff, thanks to the generosity of the League of Friends, and a group of dedicated volunteers.
The hospital gardens have always been a haven for patients and staff with its lawns, paths, planting and seating. They have always been an important part of the hospital, being overlooked from the wards providing a lovely outlook for both staff and patients.
The handsome looking hospital was designed by renowned architect Sidney Colwyn Foulkes.
The gardens will be transformed by a £5,000 grant from the League of Friends of the Colwyn Bay Hospital.
Table top gardening will be introduced so that patients can enjoy a spot of gentle gardening that studies have shown could help with their mental wellbeing. Gardening and being in outdoor spaces promotes calmness in dementia patients, prevents boredom and depression and reduces aggression and helps maintain balance and coordination.
A group of volunteers and hospital staff recently gave up their time to dig out weeds, and they’ve been replaced by new seasonal plants-ensuring there will be colour throughout the year.
“A bit love is being put back into the garden and I’m just so grateful for the generosity of the League of Friends of Colwyn Bay Hospital and to the North Wales NHS Charity Awyr Las for supporting the project,” said
Environment officer for BCUHB Jenny Usher-Jones said: “It’s a fantastic project which will benefit the health and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors.”
Dementia support worker Elizabeth Anderson said: “The staff are so excited that the gardens are going to be revitalised and loved once again.
“A lot of pollinators are going to be planted and fragranced plants. I’d like to thank Kings Garden in Denbighshire for helping and advising us with the project.”
She added: It’s about patients having the connection with the natural world, and this garden has always been a haven for patients and staff alike, but now it will be even a lovelier one.”
The project has also been supported by the Gwynt y More fund.
To donate to Awyr Las to help fund more projects like this, please visit: Awyr Las | Give today
