GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING


through the whole year. The sound of grasses blowing in the wind can be calming, whilst safe to touch. Planting fruit trees has been successful in some of our projects, allowing the garden users to see and enjoy the full lifecycle of the tree, from sapling to fruit bearing, and then trying the fruit for themselves. Throughout the world, people still rely on traditional


herbal medicine, and many drugs we use today come directly or indirectly from plant extracts or copies of plant compounds.8


‘basic’ and ‘essential’ by the World Health Organization originated in flowering plants.9


In fact, around 11% of the drugs considered You can tell which plant


At the British Sugar site in Bury St Edmunds, the Gavin Jones team was tasked with creating a staff wellness area where staff can get outside and have a break from the smells and sounds of the factory indoors.


gardening are the same as through playing badminton, volleyball, or yoga.6 In a care setting, some patients won’t be able to participate in this sort of activity, but inclusion can be tailored to the individual, with simple, seated actions such as potting a plant or watering, helping to aid movement and breathing, without exercise being the primary focus. Exposure to sunlight can be just as beneficial to health, if it is enjoyed safely. Natural light provides us with vitamin D, which helps regulate calcium and phosphate in the body, in turn keeping our bones, teeth, and muscles, healthy.7


If it is safe to do so for the patient, putting your


hands into the soil can expose us to bacteria. These are healthy bacteria that work to strengthen our immune systems and reduce inflammatory responses. Some research has even shown that there is a link between children not being exposed to soil, and rates of allergies, asthma, and mental disorders.


What to plant in a wellness garden One of the most important elements to consider when designing a wellness garden is privacy. Patients, their visitors, and staff, need space and time to be at one with the garden, and to embrace their emotional response to being in the healthcare setting. Privacy can be achieved through tall plants such as laurels, or climbers such as jasmine, clematis, or wisteria, on an arbour or screening. It is important to incorporate sheltered areas within the garden itself, and that people cannot be seen easily from the main building, walkways, or car park. A clever wellness garden needs to ensure that it is accessible for all types of visitors and their physical abilities. One of the key opportunities of a garden is the chance for social interaction, and so a seating area or space for meeting others is essential. Surrounding this space, you might want to consider including plants that have the most sensory impact; for example those that are highly scented, have leaves that are soft to the touch, create a sound when the wind blows, or have spectacular colour in the sun or rain. Plants that are good for this include those of an


herbaceous species. An herbaceous plant is one that does not have any true woody tissues. Nearly all annual and biennial plants are herbaceous, reaching their full height and producing flowers in one year, before dying back over the winter. They then return in the following spring. Plants including salvia, lavender, and rosemary, are good choices for a wellness garden. Bright colours can be introduced at all times of


year, depending on location and site conditions, and successional planting brings new life into the garden


68 Health Estate Journal March 2025


Treating insect bites Less commonly known, the dried marigold flower can be rubbed onto insect bites or stings to help reduce pain and swelling, and elderflower has been used as both an antiseptic, and for its anti-inflammatory properties. Including plants such as these is a nod to our herbal past, and they provide sensory stimulation with strong scent and textures.


A wellness garden is not complete without a seating area or multiple spots to rest. The purpose of a wellness garden is for visitors to join, or a place to seek solace when needed. Sensory elements such as the use of gravel or other flooring textures can help to add sound and colour, but be careful that these are suitable for wheelchair users, or those with mobility needs. I’d recommend a pea gravel or rubber, which is more suited to those who find different surfaces hard to manage. Rubber offers a softer landing should a person be unsteady on their feet. To allow access to garden activities such as potting or watering, a raised bed or potting table should be incorporated. Allowing plants to grow at different levels also adds interest to the garden. The use of water not only adds sensory impact, but it can also encourage wildlife to visit as a source of water, and even a breeding ground. If running water is not possible, and a pond unsafe, the use of bird baths interspersed amongst the flowers is helpful for our feathered friends. To add to the atmosphere of the garden, wind chimes offer a sound experience, while mirrors and solar lights can reflect light, shape, and colour.


Wellness gardens in practice


n Dementia garden at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn In a recent project the landscaping team at Gavin Jones created a dementia garden at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, intended as a therapeutic space for patients to get outside.


has a herbal, as it will often have ‘officinalis’ in its name, which is the Latin for apothecary’s workshop. Possibly one of the most well-known examples you might think of is of morphine, a strong painkiller originally isolated from poppies before being synthesised in labs today. Many everyday herbs used in cooking have medicinal uses, such as coriander for helping digestion, peppermint for intestinal disorders, and garlic – which has been shown to reduce blood pressure. You might consider planting traditional medicinal plants such as St John’s Wort, which has been used to treat depression, lavender to reduce headache, stress, and insomnia, and roses for their petals that contain vitamin C, ascorbic acid, and iron. Many people may already drink nettle tea, which is being studied to find a connection with Alzheimer’s. Camomile, echinacea, and aloe vera, are commonly used in healthcare products for their properties for treating the skin and minor wounds.


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