A GARDEN designed to make time in hospital for dementia patients as comfortable as possible has been recognised with a top award.

In 2015, Yeovil District Hospital’s dementia and delirium team was awarded funding from the National Lottery to develop a safe and enclosed garden for patients to visit off the ward, but still connected to the hospital.

Since then, the team has worked closely with senior hospital gardener Adrian Goldring to maintain the green space.

And their hard work has been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which has rated it as Level 5 – Outstanding, for the third year running.

Kirsty Withers, a specialist matron and a lead for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s dementia and delirium service, said the rating meant a lot to everyone at the hospital.

“We’re very proud that our garden has been recognised by the RHS in this way for the third year running,” she said. “The judges always say they’re looking for that originality and I think our garden is unique in so many ways.

“It’s unprecedented for a hospital to win it three years in a row, and just for us to be recognised at this local level is really important for the town too.”

The garden aims to make time in hospital for dementia patients as easy as possible

She said the garden gave patients the chance to connect with the outside world, despite being in hospital.

“I think the garden is so important for all our patients, particularly those with dementia, to have access to the outside world,” she said.

“With the different seasons, temperatures, fresh air and horticulture, it’s a small way of helping our patients to get back in touch with nature again.”

Eight years ago, the hospital’s dementia and delirium team and arts team worked in partnership with the former district council, whose landscaping team helped with both the design and sourcing of the plants.

A great deal of fundraising took place and an amazing band of volunteers came to help with the task of planting all the lovely flowers and greenery.

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“The garden has a lovely seating area and a really nice canopy, which provides shade in the summer, as well as cover during the rainy seasons – very much needed if this month is anything to go by,” Kirsty added.

“It’s not just the summer that our garden blooms either, as in winter, there’s a selection of interesting sculptural pieces, such as mosaics, and even some metal flowers – why not pop down to take a look when you have a spare five minutes?

“We use it for tea parties, and of course we decorate it over festive periods – we’ve been busy decorating the garden’s Christmas tree over the last week or so.

“Our team also uses the garden to take patients who’ve become agitated or confused on the ward, giving them that much needed space to calm down in a quiet and tranquil environment.

“It’s also well used by colleagues as it’s directly off the Queensway Day Centre and discharge lounge, so it’s a peaceful space, with a nice view too.”

Gardener Adrian Goldring with the award

Hospital gardener Adrian said he was over the moon with the news.

“This year is unprecedented as we’ve done something nobody else has ever – winning the award three years in a row,” he said.

“It was a real pleasure to take the team of judges around the garden and it gave me a real sense of pride, both personally, and as part of our wider team.

“It’s a real collective effort, and we’re always on the look out for volunteers to help to maintain the garden.”

Anyone interested in volunteering in the garden should contact Kirsty by email to Kirsty.Withers@SomersetFT.nhs.uk.