A NEW garden for patients at Wokingham Community Hospital has been declared open, with a bit of help from a patient.
Wokingham In Need helped coordinate the work to turn a former concrete jungle at the Barkham Road site into a place of tranquillity and calm.
It worked with several supporting companies to turn the vision into a reality, and a celebration event was held on Friday, September 1.
Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Beth Rowland joined with town mayor Cllr Sally Gurney for the ceremony, with patient Caroline Collins declaring the garden open as Cllr Gurney cut the ribbon.
Cllr Rowland shared how she had spent a week in the hospital when her children were born, back when it had a maternity ward.
Now it is used to help with, among other things, mental health services, with the garden intended to be a safe space for staff and patients.
“To be able to come out and sit in this garden, even if it’s raining, having green and colour around you, and plants … it can lift your mind, and make you feel more relaxed,” she said.
“I think it’s very important that we look to the body, the mind and the spirit of everyone these days.
“Thank you to everyone who worked on this project, it is absolutely beautiful.”
Cllr Gurney said: “It is such a beautiful garden.
“The list of people who contributed to this is huge. The garden is a reminder of the community and the love and care that everybody has in this town for everybody else.”
Peter Izod helped design the space and said that Wokingham In Need would ensure it was maintained for years to come.
Wokingham Men’s Shed created four benches for the gardens, and to support their work Mr Izod presented them with a cheque for £200.
Wokingham Hospital’s inpatients service manager Ellen said she spoke on behalf of all the staff and patients that will use the garden.
“Throughout the development we’ve kept the patient in mind to ensure it is accessible and something nice for them to spend time in.
“It’s a big asset to the patients and we wholeheartedly send thanks to all involved – we will love it and maintain it.”
Sue Jackon, who chairs WIN, added her thanks to all the sponsors who are listed on a plaque in the gardens.
They are Wokingham Society, Wokingham Town Council, Mobbs Trust, Prospect Estate Agency, Southern Co-op Neighbourly, Vistry Group, Dell Technologies, Dobbies Garden Centre Hare Hatch, Long Acres Bagshot Garden Centre, Waitrose Wokingham, Winnersh Garden Centre, and Wokingham In Bloom.
