Building a community garden
Just a day after World Mental Health Day we’re delighted to announce that we are working with ‘Altogether Better‘ and the team at Shore Medical’s Lilliput Surgery and Lilliput Health on a Community Garden Scheme.
Altogether Better are an advisory N.H.S-focused organisation who assist the NHS through teams of volunteers. Lilliput Surgery are fortunate to have a team of Health Champion volunteers in place who work hard to relieve the increasing pressure that the the clinical team are under. To do this, the team meet-and greet patients and assist with signposting them to relevant online and alternative services that might not appear readily available.
One of the schemes, known as ‘social prescribing’, enables those who are perhaps lonely or isolated to engage with others and to develop friendships and take part in outdoor activities.
Lilliput surgery is fortunate enough to have a garden space to the rear of the surgery. It’s beautiful!, and backs onto the shoreline of Blue Lagoon in down by the Harbour. In a past life, the surgery was also a substantial house with a swimming pool which was owned by the Doctor who ran the practice. Fortunately for current patients and staff the now freeholder of the property has given the team the go ahead to build a community garden on the site where the swimming pool once sat. There’s a lot of work to do!
The Team’s vision is to create a welcoming, safe and peaceful environment. A reflective space to sit and contemplate, enjoy the sea view, or perhaps get stuck in and help with the garden…
We are fortunate enough to be on the Volunteer team, and were this week Matt went along to the launch of the garden alongside the clinical team, volunteers and NHS delegates. Matt explained to the visitors and staff that we will be assisting the Health Champion team by donating a site plan, materials and plants (when possible) and much needed labour onsite. We’re excited to work with the volunteers, who all have great ideas about how to transform the space.
We’re really excited to be involved, and as patients of the surgery we’re looking forward to giving something back to the NHS.
The scheme relies solely on donations, and so if you’d like to get involved with us, then please email – Info@thegardenroomstudio.com and we’ll hook you up with the team.
M & E