A MENTAL health hospital will soon be getting two brand-new gardens designed by award-winners.
Parklands Hospital, in Aldermaston Road, will soon be the recipient of two new gardens designed by Chelsea Flower Show Gold medallists.
The project has come about from NHS Trust Southern Health linking with Sparsholt College and Help for Heroes.
The horticulture team from Sparsholt College and University Centre Sparsholt worked with veteran volunteers who have received support from the military charity Help for Heroes last year, to win a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018
Both organisations said they are delighted to be coming together again to support the NHS.
Parklands is home to a general inpatient mental health ward as well as a specialist ward for serving MoD personnel.
Medical director at Southern Health, Dr Karl Marlowe, said: “There is growing evidence of the therapeutic impact that getting outside and enjoying a garden can have on someone’s mental health.
“As a result, we decided to approach our new partners to transform tired, under-used outside spaces at Parklands to create a special sensory garden for our military patients (giving them space for quiet reflection), whilst also creating a more social, active outdoor space for our other patients and visitors.
“We are absolutely thrilled at how they’ve risen to the challenge.”
Five students on Sparsholt College’s garden design diploma, along with senior lecturer and horticultural expert Chris Bird, have come up with concepts or both gardens.
These will then be executed by veterans supported by Help for Heroes and MoD patients in the coming months with the gardens expected to open in the summer.
To support the project, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/brighterway-parklandgardens.
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