2014 10-22 garden build

2014-10-22 Garden Build 1

GARDEN BUILD

Existing GARDENS in Children’s Wards and Hospitals are Fairy Gardens

In Adult Hospitals future Gardens are Happy Gardens

To save confusion they are all referred to here as the GARDEN


My Commitment

Fairy Sparkle December 1996

I passionately desire to improve the patient experience while in Hospital.

The GARDEN and the GARDEN Program introduced here will

help to improve healing, speed up recovery, improve staff morale,

lessen the stress on the family and enhance the positive memory

of the Hospital experience for the patient


Introduction

In times gone by, Hospitals were built on beautiful grounds and were surrounded by

exquisite gardens where patients could spend many hours in recovery.

Today’s society has seen this philosophy change beyond recognition. Those Hospitals

lucky enough to have any external garden are seen to be purely cosmetic and allocated

minimal maintenance. The therapeutic value of nature to help the healing process has

been lost.

Our evidence shows that it’s time to value it again.

GARDEN Build with its associated community volunteer program, can fill the void and

needs expressed by so many patients today. It is doubtful that we can return to the

exquisite gardens of yester-year but we can work within our existing structures to bring

together a solution that meets the needs of today’s patients, their families, staff, the

Hospital and the wider community.

The following summary gives an overview and initial understanding of the requirements

needed to build these very special GARDENS.


The GARDEN Build

Seeing a special GARDEN built to improve the patient experience in Hospital and a

new Volunteer Program to support patients to and from the GARDEN seems like a very

big and bold vision.

And it is… but what a beautiful vision for the benefit of all.

National/State Health

The most time, resource and cost effective method of initially building the GARDEN is

during the construction of new and refurbished Hospitals. New GARDEN construction

within an existing Hospital is still possible at the local level.

Local Hospital

Once built, the GARDEN and the Program are solely 'owned' by the local Hospital and

incorporated into an existing Hospital program, whether it be Allied Health, Play Therapy

or the Hospital Volunteer Program or other internal department. It is not owned by any

external charity or organisation.


7 Principles of the GARDEN

These 7 Principles give the GARDEN structure and embrace the essence, energy and

healing effects of the GARDEN

The value of each Principle has been proven with 12 GARDENS, funded, established

and maintained over 15 years and ensure a garden sanctuary.

1. Enclosed with fences, hedges and trees

2. Paths based loosely on an ‘infinity’ sign

3. Flat paths for wheelchairs & drips

4. Paths define rooms with preferred entrance through an Atrium

5. Can’t see the end from the beginning

6. Some tree canopy

7. Must be maintainable & sustainable


7 Functions of the GARDEN

These 7 functions provide the framework for building the GARDEN at the local Hospital

level and includes Health Infrastructure, Contractors, the local Hospital, local community

and the general public.

1. Approvals

2. Design

3. Funding

4. Planning

5. Hard Landscaping

6. Soft Landscaping

7. Features/decorating/lighting


1. Enclosed with fences, hedges and trees

• Enclosing the garden creates a ‘sanctuary’ feel

• It provides a screening from the outside world

• Helps to reduce outside street noise, especially

noise from cars

• Provides the framework for the rest of the

garden

• People passing by should not be able to see

into the garden


2. Paths based loosely on an infinity sign

• The infinity sign is based loosely on a figure

of 8 and should encourage exploration of

the garden

• As space permits other smaller graded

paths can connect to the infinity path

• Allows patients to walk and walk and not

reach the end encouraging exercise

• If space permits lay the infinity path

east/west


3. Flat paths for wheelchairs & drips

• Flat main path reduces slip/trip hazards when

patients may be unstable on their feet

• Helps patients gain confidence walking

• Allows patients confined to wheelchairs or

using ‘drips’ to access the GARDEN

• Allows patients to be pushed around the

GARDEN easily

• Allows for raised garden beds to provide

interest, seating, and visual impact from

a wheelchair

• Children and those in wheelchairs can see

into the garden beds


4. Paths define Rooms

• A well constructed infinity path allows a

minimum of 8 ‘rooms’

• The rooms are defined by the path

• These rooms are not enclosed

• Gentle plant screening allows the feeling of

privacy yet still visible

• Staff meetings and family meetings with staff

are often held in the GARDEN

• The inclusion of an entrance Atrium proves

maximum use of the GARDEN in all weather


5. Can’t see the End from Beginning

• Clever planting allows even the smallest

GARDEN to appear large

• The GARDEN allows exploration,

investigation and little surprises at every turn

• The imagination is heightened and curiosity

increases, inspiring young and old alike

• The GARDEN changes with the seasons

• The GARDEN structure remains the same

however, planting, ornamentals and

decorating often changes


6. Some Tree Canopy

• Trees provide a light canopy embracing

everyone walking underneath (not a forest).

This is a key element

• Gardens with a tree canopy are degrees

cooler in summer and degrees warmer in

winter

• Canopy helps patients feel they are not in a

Hospital

• Careful care of trees during their first few

years is imperative to create the lasting

desired effect

• A caring and understanding arborist must be

engaged who understands the long term

vision for the garden


7. Must be Maintainable and Sustainable

• Maintenance has been the biggest

challenge

• A written maintenance plan and budget

is essential

• A qualified horticulturalist must be engaged

to ensure healthy, flourishing plants

• Volunteers and ‘green thumbs’ can be

encouraged to provide week to week care

• A volunteer program can be introduced to

support patients to and from their beds

maximising the use of the GARDEN


Tangible Elements of the GARDEN•Handmade mementos

•Hanging Baskets

•Hedge – private areas

•Herbs

•Lanterns

•Lattice

•Lighting, including Fairy Lights

•Lillies

•Maze

•Natural Music

•Natives

•Notice boards at entry - with Sponsor

acknowledgements, the story, kids

letters and drawings

•Patterns in paths

•Pergola

•Ponds/Pool

•Rocking Chair

•Rocks

•Rooms with nooks and crannies

•Seating

•Security Camera

•Shade

•Soil

•Sounds

•Stars for ‘Starry Tree’

•Statues

•Lucky Stones

•Sun Dial

•Security Phone

•Thresholds

•Trees

•Fallen Timber Logs

•Quotes and Sayings

•Water

•Water barrel with pump (runs electrically

and can be hand pumped)

•Watering cans

•Wheelbarrows with annuals

•Wheelchair and drip stand accessible

•Wind Mobile

•Wishing Well

•Wind Chime

•No advertising in garden (at entrance)

•No memorial stones

•Wall murals should not replace trees and

plantings

There are many ideas, here are a

few ideas that have worked...

•Archways

•Bamboo

•Bells

•Benches

•Birds not caged, Bird Feeder

•Blossom, Bulbs (annuals)

•Bridge

•Butterflies

•Characters – Animations

•Grotto

•Circular – no square angles

•Colour

•Creepers

•Crystals

•Flower Fairy Mailbox

•Flowers

•Fountain

•Garden Furniture

•Garden House / Gazebo

•Garlands (clothes)

•Gate

•Grassy area


GARDEN Essence

The GARDEN provides an exploration awakening the senses.

Whatever you were feeling before ebbs away as the GARDEN embraces you with its

canopy. The Hospital from where you have come is almost hidden away

Nature is helping you to heal, privately, quietly asking nothing in return. The GARDEN

allows families to find a quality of life taken for granted by healthy families,

an escape to …

…feel the sunshine, warmth and the breeze on your skin

…a place to watch the rain fall from a protected gazebo

…smell the scent on the ground after a shower of rain

…see the effect on the garden after a storm

…see the flowers blooming

…know the seasons still happen

…and yes, a place to laugh freely with your children

This is not understood by most people until it’s taken away!


A snapshot of the existing

12 GARDENS


Existing Hospitals GARDENSThere is a GARDEN at

1. Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick - Ground Level

2. Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick - Balcony Level

3. Bundaberg Base Hospital

4. Orange Base Hospital

5. Royal North Shore Hospital

6. John Hunter Children’s Hospital

7. Mt Druitt Hospital Children’s Ward

8. Orange Hospital – New

9. Sydney Children’s Revamp, Randwick – Renewed Ground Level

10.Royal North Shore – Level 7 New

11.Mt Druitt Hospital Palliative Care Ward

12.Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick – New Balcony


New GARDENS

New GARDENS are under development at:

• Wagga Base Hospital

• Bega Base Hospital

Both the new and existing GARDENS have been a labour of love.

They have provided an essential understanding of the needs of patients,

families and staff in the most difficult of situations - being in a Hospital.

From this understanding the GARDEN Program will now

inspire a GARDEN in all Hospitals.


Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick

Opened 1999From this…

To this…

Thanks to David Cochrane, Radio 2UE and the community



First Balcony, opened 2001

To this…

From this…

Thanks to Civic Trees and the community


Bundaberg Base Hospital, Qld


To this…

Thanks to Shawn & Chris Hall and the community


Orange Base Hospital


To this…

Thanks to Fiona Rossiter and the community


Royal North Shore, Children’s Ward

5th floor Balcony, Opened 2006From this…

To this…

Thanks to Ben Hargreaves, Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Variety The Childrens Charity


John Hunter Children’s Hospital

Newcastle, Opened 2007

From this…

To this…

Thanks to Variety The Childrens Charity and the Gastronimic Lunch


Mt Druitt Hospital


To this…

Thanks to Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Variety The Childrens Charity


Orange Hospital – New

Opened 2011

To this…

Thanks to Kerry Campbell and the community

From this…


Sydney Children’s Revamp, Randwick

Reopened Ground Level, October 2014

Thanks to Secret Gardens, Sydney and suppliers

From this…

To this…


Royal North Shore – Level 7 New

From this…

Thanks to Health Infrastructure NSW, Brookfield Multiplex, Better Homes & Gardens and

Humpty Dumpty Foundation

Opening December 2014


Mt Druitt Hospital Palliative Care Ward

From this…

Thanks to Pinegrove Memorial Park and suppliers

Opening December 2014



New BalconyFrom this…

Waiting for the magic…


In its simplest form

the very nature of the GARDEN

draws patients out of their beds

and families out of the Ward

Fairy Sparkle

December 1996

2014 10-22 garden build

Environment

garden program

external garden

garden structure

garden buildseeing

garden sanctuary

garden buildexisting

new garden construction

hospital experience