Hospital dementia garden rated ‘Outstanding’ by Yeovil in Bloom judges

It was Outstanding again for Yeovil Hospital’s dementia garden in the annual Yeovil in Bloom contest.

Yeovil in Bloom was first set up by the town council in 1996, as a way to enhance the visual quality of the area and bring the local community together.

Kirsty Hook, our specialist matron and head of service for our Yeovil-based dementia and delirium care team, says judges were really engaged during their visit and spent a great deal of time in the garden, asking lots of questions.

“We’re so pleased that our dementia garden has once again been recognised in this way,” she says. “We want our patients, their families, and our colleagues to know that they’re always welcome to use the garden as a peaceful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the hospital.

“The judging day went really well and to be honest as soon as we mentioned the word ‘dementia’ we could see how much it resonated with our visitors – it has a special place in peoples’ hearts, and we’re making a difference for patients living with the condition.

“Sometimes it’s more than the aesthetics of the garden and actually what it represents that people love the most.

“Being able to visit the garden is particularly good for those patients who’ve been in hospital for a long time, and I think having that outside space gives them a chance to remove themselves from the ward, take a break, and get back in touch with nature again.

“It’s such a precious space and is worth its weight in gold, particularly with all the building work taking place across the hospital, as there are limited outdoor spaces for us to enjoy at the moment.

“One of the other things that’s great about the garden is that whatever the weather, patients in our discharge lounge and others having treatment in the Queensway Day Hospital can gaze at it from the windows.”

Caroline Barnes, creative health coordinator at Art for Life, adds that the garden gives patients that connection with the seasons, especially with the blossom and apple tree.

“Although we’re blessed with some lovely views, especially on the higher levels of the tower block, there’s the sensory element of being surrounded by greenery, with the sights, smells and sounds,” she says.

“It gives our patients the chance to even do a bit of gardening if they want to, such as weeding or planting, or just absorb the area.

“It also creates interesting conversations, such as talking about people’s gardens back home, so there’s a reminiscence angle to it as well.

“And it gives relatives and carers somewhere to take their loved ones, and while they may not necessarily remember where they’ve been, they’ll still have that sense of wellness and happiness.

“We want to say a big thank you to Adrian, our hospital gardener, for watering the garden and keeping an eye on it, as well as our volunteers for the planting, and our dementia support workers for general maintenance and bringing patients down there.”