Taking a look at the Mulberry Garden 2 years on
Just over 2 years ago, the space beside Beech and Alder Ward was a disused desolate space and patients had nowhere to go to sit outside with visitors, or to exercise safely.
Mulberry Unit provides specialist stroke rehabilitation services for patients across Norfolk delivering multi disciplinary therapies for treatment and recovery to make a safe return home.
The charity applied to NHS Charities Together for a grant of £35,000 to enable the delivery of a dedicated outside space, providing accessible pathways, sensory planting, trees and seating areas.
The gardens are well used by patients, taking in fresh air and exercise, physiotherapy and spending time with family and friends. It brings a welcome respite from the busyness of the ward environment giving a welcome boost to mental and physical wellbeing.
Staff particularly enjoy the space too, taking a short break, using it for outdoor meetings or just spending some time outdoors away from a busy workspace.
Over the last 2 years, the beautiful silver birch trees have become more established, the wildflower meadow continues to grow as it gracefully bobs in the wind and plants like the hydrangeas and lavender deliver wonderful scent. We have added additional raised beds, shelter for the seating area, more benches and planted lots of bulbs and flowering plants.
The gardens are tended to by our wonderful volunteer Melissa who regularly spends time keeping the weeds at bay, planting bulbs and plants and generally keeping the space tip-top for patients use.
A huge thank you to Melissa for helping to keep this space looking so lovely for patients, visitors and staff at Norwich Community Hospital.
This year, we will be adding more seating, more raised beds and a potting area for patients to participate in horticultural therapy with the staff.
You can support this wonderful space, by making a donation to our Mulberry Garden fund here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/mulberrygarden.