The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow has today (Friday 03 March) opened its ‘Gro Garden’ to staff patients and visitors. The garden opens in time for World Wildlife Day and is a welcome addition to the many green spaces afforded to patients, visitors and staff across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde campuses.
The all-weather Gro Garden structure, constructed from recycled timber, boasts sheltered seating areas and growing planters, making it an ideal spot for relaxation and mindfulness.
As well as serving as a spot for people to unwind, the Gro Garden has also been incorporated into a number of wildlife walks and wellness activities which will help people learn about different species of trees and plants and practice mindfulness.
The garden acts as a symbol of the health board’s drive towards achieving a more sustainable approach to healthcare and will play a role in reminding visitors of the importance of the environment and in working and living sustainably.
Martin Johnston, Interim head of Sustainability for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said:
“I’d like to thank all the teams involved in bringing this project together. The Gro Garden provides a calming space where people can escape the hustle and bustle of hospital life and enjoy the benefits of being outside. We are keen to see it integrated into wider patient care and it will also be used as somewhere volunteers and patients can get involved in outdoor activities such as planting and maintaining garden plots as part of green prescribing.”
As part of the development, NHSGGC worked with local social enterprises that provide training schemes and apprenticeships, creating valuable opportunities for people in the community with work contributing towards community wealth building while also placing NHSGGC as an anchor organisation within the region. One such group was artpistol Projects which worked with the Health Board for its Portrayals – Painting Scotland’s Climate Story work.
Other groups including The Conservation Volunteers, ERZ landscape architects, Glasgow Wood Recycling, MW Groundworks One also contributed to the project.
Ali Smith from artpistol said: “We’re delighted to be a part of this project which has brought new life to what was a vacant lot on the site, with climate stories at the heart of our work. I think we have created a garden and art which reflects the local community, is filled with biodiversity and allows patients, staff and the wider community to come together and enjoy some green space.”
The Gro Garden will be open to visitors from 8am – 6pm, Monday – Sunday and anyone who wishes to take part in any Gro Garden walks or activities can visit the NHSGGC website here for more information. More activity dates will be added in due course.
