Deteriorating hospital gardens have been transformed into calm and welcoming places. Volunteers at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, have been tirelessly working in the gardens across the site to bring them back to life. This has included weeding, trimming, chopping, and planting.
READ MORE: Council gives more than £250,000 to community service providers So far, the volunteers have revitalised several gardens around the hospital site including the historic 18th century garden, the Staff Wellbeing Garden, and patio areas stretching from the Munro Unit to the Ford and Boxgrove wards. The gardens have been transformed (Image: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust) Areas outside the main reception, the outpatient entrances, and Donald Wilson House, have been spruced up too. Charlotte Freeman, hospital director at St Richard’s, said: "The grounds of our hospital sites are really important for both our staff, patients and visitors to the hospital to enhance healing and boost wellbeing.
"Unfortunately, for various reasons, some of our gardens were not in a great shape and needed some attention. "I know many colleagues have been raising concerns about this over the last few weeks and this was a point of discussion in our recent hospital forum and I am both pleased and grateful to see action to care for our gardens taking place from our wonderful volunteers.” Gayle Dixon, voluntary services manager, said: "Our staff are hugely grateful to the volunteers who generously.