Critical Care Centre Garden –
Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Some years ago, Godmanchester in Bloom was invited to investigate how to improve the Critical Care Centre at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, . On visiting, the In Bloom team found it to be in very poor condition – with a huge cherry tree filling much of the area, and the garden very overgrown. It was clearly going to be both a sizeable and expensive task to make it a place fit for people to sit out in.

We needed grants to cover the cost of improving the Garden.  Between May and June 2017, we appeared in three local TESCO stores under their Blue Token scheme and we were truly humbled to find that we had been nominated in first place to recieve a grant  of £4,000. This enable us to have a local garden design organisation to clear the site and provide us with a plan for the Garden.

The first task was to remove the cherry tree, which took three days, and to improve the ground. With that completed, planting was carried out over a period of a week. The Bloomers then moved in with colour and scent the top priorities. With the grant more than covering the clearance and landscaping, we moved on to additions for the area.

The Garden was formally opened in November 2017 by the Town Mayor and representatives of Godmanchester in Bloom, together with the Chairman and Staff at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and representatives from TESCO.

We added a large pot with a tree, a stone bird bath and a bird table with a supply of food. The tree has flourished, the bird bath is used and the bird table resupplied regularly by the ward staff, who also water the garden. Over the months we have visited and added to the plants, weeded and kept the area tidy.

There is now also a rota for visiting and tidying the garden. But the ward staff have done most, with regular watering and generally looking after it. There is also a bench donated by the widow of a former patient in the ward, together with tables and chairs for the families of patients. T

It now provides a calm quiet oasis in the heart of the hospital for patients, families and Hospital staff to sit and reflect.

Contacts

Susan Constable
susan.constable@ymail.com

Malcolm Cohen
malcohen10293@outlook.com