GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING


The British Sugar factory site in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk is predominantly an industrial one, with the factory and staff facilities at its heart.


Among the key requirements were to make the plants accessible with the use of raised planters, while some edible plants included spearmint, sweet basil, and parsley, for an additional sensory experience. With concern that patients could suffer a fall, soft rubber matting was used on the ground, with benches, while the whole site is wheelchair-accessible. A pergola was installed to add support for climbing vines, and to add to the already private garden space, which cannot be seen from other parts of the hospital.


n Social prescribing garden at NHS Corby We supported the creation of a garden for social prescribing on behalf of NHS Corby at Willowbrook Health Complex in the Northamptonshire town. The aim was to create a wheelchair-friendly space where patients can participate in garden-based activities. As part of the garden, we installed a shed to store tools, and a water butt to harvest rainwater. Planters were created, using our carefully considered planting scheme, and some were left empty for the patients to fill as part of their wellness activities. The result was a garden that can be used for a whole host of different purposes, and by different groups for social prescribing. The beauty of gardening in a space such as this is that it is a safe environment that is therapeutic and relatively inexpensive to run and use. Planting seedlings and watching them grow is beneficial to wellbeing, and with the added responsibility of looking after something through its lifecycle, people become connected to what they have created.


n Maternity bereavement garden, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn


The new maternity bereavement garden at this King’s Lynn hospital was created as a bereavement and memorial garden for parents and carers who have suffered the loss of a baby. The garden needed to be a safe space, with a high level of privacy, and accessibility for all. The theme of the garden was butterflies, and an artist blacksmith, Nigel Barnett, was commissioned to create 250 purple Norfolk butterflies that will each bear a special message. The butterfly sculptures will be installed on a memorial wall, and carefully chosen purple planting will fill the borders.


n Staff wellness garden at British Sugar, Bury St Edmunds


Another garden we had a hand in was at the historic British Sugar factory in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. The site


is predominantly an industrial one, with the factory and staff facilities at its heart. We were tasked with creating a staff wellness area where the teams can get outside and have a break from the smells and sounds of the factory indoors. The resulting garden was a restful place for staff to visit on their breaks, and a local school has been invited to position bird boxes in the garden to help with nesting. The evidence is clear: wellness gardens are not just


aesthetically pleasing additions to healthcare settings, but rather vital components of holistic patient care. By providing opportunities for physical activity, stress reduction, social interaction, and sensory stimulation, these green spaces offer a powerful tool for improving both physical and mental health. As healthcare systems continue to seek innovative


approaches to patient wellbeing, the incorporation of wellness gardens should be a priority. By investing in these spaces, we are investing in the health and happiness of patients, staff, and the wider community. At Gavin Jones, we are proud to help cultivate a future


where healthcare is enriched by the healing power of nature.


References and further reading 1 What is social prescribing? NHS England. https://tinyurl. com/3umfabbp


2 Social prescribing – frequently asked questions. NHS England https://tinyurl.com/3az9utj5


3 Thompson R. Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening. Clin Med (Lond). 2018 Jun; 18(3): 201–205.


4 Colley J, Pattie A, Deary IJ, Cox RS. Gardening linked to staying sharp in later life. Journ of Environ Psych; August 2024; 97. Elsevier.


5 Green spaces deliver lasting mental health benefits. University of Exeter. https://news-archive.exeter.ac.uk/featurednews/ title_349054_en.html


6 Calories burned in 30 minutes for people of three different weights. Harvard Health Publishing. 8 March 2021. https:// tinyurl.com/hw53r8b6


7 The Physical, Mental, and Social Benefits Of Gardening. Coir Products. https://tinyurl.com/yc4cu9tk


8 ‘The healing power of plants’ information sheet. RHS Campaign for School Gardening. https://tinyurl. com/3wvkyk9u


9 Pavid K. Aspirin, morphine and chemotherapy: the essential medicines powered by plants. Natural History Museum 19 February 2021. https://tinyurl.com/3s7u958r


Joshua Clark


Joshua Clark started his career as an apprentice, and immediately loved the outdoor working environment, and seeing his hard work come to fruition. He progressed to his current role of Estimator, and has been pivotal in many contracts since, including the ones described in this article – which he says have been some of the most fulfilling – where he gets to add his personal touch. With a keen eye for


detail, he is a self- professed perfectionist, making him a great asset to the Gavin Jones team. His extensive plant knowledge stems from years of training and experience, ‘working with some of the best in the business’. One aspect he especially relishes is spending time creating bespoke planting palettes to unify aesthetics, themes, or patterns, designed for the garden. Joshua enjoys problem solving and working on a ‘garden with purpose’, such as wellness gardens and projects at healthcare sites. He loves the challenge of combining scale, form, colour, and soil type to create a finished space that works in harmony for the plants, layout, and end-users.


March 2025 Health Estate Journal 69


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