The need for a healing garden at Wedgwood House, (the adult acute inpatient mental health unit for West Suffolk) has never been greater. The inpatients and outpatients, who range in age from late teens to later life, come from all corners of society with many of them never having benefitted from having a garden of their own. Patients are living with one or more acute mental health conditions caused by multiple factors, including childhood trauma, homelessness, addictions, poverty, violence, marital or other family breakdowns and learning difficulties. Many come from deprived communities, some face stigma and almost all have poor health literacy.

For our patients and staff, this garden will be transformative. From the start, they have been involved with developing the design ideas with the team, offering valuable insight into what they most want to benefit from in a therapy garden. They frequently comment on their wish to spend time out in the fresh air amidst nature. Certainly spending continuous time within the white walls and static surroundings of a secure institution can take its toll, even when staff are working hard to aid the recovery and discharge of their patients.