Brighterway, the local NHS charity for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust that raises money to enhance the care, experiences and outcomes for patients, staff and the community, has won a Large Gold award at this year’s New Forest Show, in the flower and garden category, for their incredible edible garden.
Funded by the NHS Charity, and designed by Dorinda Wolfe Murray, Knackered Gardener, the garden has been designed so all the plants are non-toxic to humans and includes a range of edible elements such as fruits, herbs and vegetables.
Phil Pride, Brighterway Charity Manager said he was “absolutely thrilled" to win a Large Gold for the Incredible Edible Garden, which will certainly help raise the profile of the benefit of gardening with mental and physical wellbeing. The beauty of this garden is that it will live on, being relocated across our ward gardens within Hampshire providing benefit, enjoyment and interest to patients and staff alike.
Garden designer, Dorinda Wolfe Murray said: “We wanted to create green and colourful spaces for patients and staff to enjoy, and provide a therapeutic activity for them to get involved in. The raised beds are all going to be reused across the wards and the pots have been designed and painted by our patients. All the edibles are used on the ward kitchens."
David Domoney, chartered horticulturalist, celebrity gardener and TV presenter was at the show supporting Brighterway’s message to highlight the mental and physical wellbeing of engaging with plants and gardens.
He said “Congratulations to Brighterway for this award. Harmonising our lives by interacting with plants and nature becomes more and more critical in an increasingly digital world. The process of tending, nurturing and caring for plants release a lot of positive neurotransmitters in the brain making us feel happy, fulfilled and more motivated.”
For more information about the Brighterway NHS Charity visit the website www.brighterway.org.uk