In mid October, our fantastic team of horticultural expert volunteers planted up our First Touch garden at St George’s Hospital. This was part of the ongoing renovation of the garden, which was first opened in 2014.
Fresh air, the natural world, outside space and plants are proven to have beneficial effects to promote positive mental health. We hope that neonatal parents, staff and all hospital users will enjoy sitting in our beautiful garden, and taking some calm ‘time out.’
Garden designer Patrick Collins was a key player in creating our beautiful garden. We asked him why he wanted to support First Touch;
‘My wife and I had lost 2 babies before our daughter Izzy arrived 3 months early and was cared for at the neonatal unit.
Over the years I’ve wanted to say ‘thanks’ to the staff who cared for Izzy. This year I completed a 2 day hike to Brighton accompanied by my rescue border collie Ted and yesterday we finished the planting for the First Touch Garden.’
Our thanks go to Patrick, to the volunteer team from Gardens & Leaves Ltd and to St George’s Head Gardener John Greco. Thanks are also due to Adrian Gray for the donation of the balancing stone sculpture and to all the suppliers who made the refurbishment of the garden possible.
We hope that the garden serves as a place of tranquillity and calm for many years.’
