Mental health wards’ sensory gardens will blossom thanks to local donations

Staff and patients at the Peter Hodgkinson Centre (PHC), Ashley House and Discovery House, were delighted to receive donations this month to bring their outdoor spaces to life. Funds have been donated through LPFT’s charity, Lincolnshire NHS Charity, and will be spent on plants and materials to enhance several sensory gardens in the Trust.

Donations for Lincolnshire NHS Charity are used to enhance services and facilities that would otherwise not be funded by the NHS. Staff and patients regularly set up fundraisers for the charity, including Admin Assistant Monica Pollard who raised £500 last September by shaving her head. The money Monica raised was used to start transformations on PHC’s sensory garden, which has become a much-loved place of relaxation.

Thanks to a recent donation of over £700 from the Harmston Women’s Institute, the sensory garden at PHC in Lincoln will be transformed with a variety of new plants.

The Trust regularly observes the benefits of gardens and patient participation in gardening. Many of their wards have used gardening as a therapeutic activity for their patients, including one of their rehabilitation wards, The Fens in Lincoln. The Fens has an on-going garden project which launched in 2018. Patients take part in planting, maintaining and cooking their produce, learning new skills and feeling a sense of fulfilment in the process.

Judith Snailham, LPFT’s Lead Occupational Therapist said: “We are incredibly grateful for the funds we have received to buy new plants and refresh the sensory garden. Gardening is a therapeutic and meaningful form of physical activity and both patients and staff really enjoy getting involved. Spending time outside and reducing stress is especially important during this time of uncertainty. Exploring the PHC sensory garden can stimulate the senses, engage patients and improve mental wellbeing. We are looking forward to further engaging patients in the project during the summer”.

Ashley House and Discovery House have also received kind donations from Pennells Garden Centre in Lincoln, who contributed an array of plants and flowers. Ward staff have worked together to give their patios and gardens a makeover with colourful pots and planters.

Philip Jackson, LPFT Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Trust’s charity committee said: “It is fantastic to see that even during this difficult time, people still want to support our charity. We would like to thank the Harmston WI and Pennells Garden Centre for their kindness in supporting this project, which helps us to create welcoming and calming spaces for staff and patients to enjoy. We are overjoyed to be able to support more patients in getting involved in gardening at LPFT over the next few months”.

To find out more information about Lincolnshire NHS Charity, please visit www.lpft.nhs.uk/our-charity.