This October, we’re celebrating 10 years of the Glenfield Hospital’s Secret Garden. The popular space for reflection and relaxation has taken root in the hearts of many colleagues, patients and visitors over the past decade.
Over the years, the Secret Garden has hosted events, memorials and even the odd celebrity. Carol Klein of Gardeners’ World was so enamoured with a large tobacco plant in the greenhouse that she asked for some of its seeds when she visited.
Karen James, UHL lead for retail catering, accommodation and the Secret Garden project, has spearheaded the team who has nurtured the garden from an overgrown bramble patch into a blossoming community hub.
“When we first got the project, you couldn’t even walk the pathways, it was so overgrown and unloved”, said Karen, “most people said I should have run a mile!
“In the past, it had been a well-loved space, but unfortunately it was locked up and left for eight years, and nature being nature took hold.”
Enlisting the help of colleagues, volunteers and the Community Payback scheme, Karen set to work clearing the acre of space in the Victorian walled garden.
Keith Muntin spent many years as the head gardener. The garden held a special place in his heart as the place he met his wife – while up an apple tree that can still be found in the garden today.
Ten years on, the Garden is a flourishing community hub and a home for events at the Glenfield Hospital. Colleagues, patients and visitors are all welcome to enjoy the garden, as well the café, memorial spaces and events marquee.
As part of the Nurture Through Nature programme, patients undergoing treatment for cancer and cardiac illnesses can take part in green therapy activities to aid their treatment. The patients plant vegetables and herbs in the garden, giving them time outdoors in a relaxing setting.
Ross Towers, Garden Maintenance Assistant, said: “Gardening can be therapeutic, and it’s great to see the impact it has on people. The Nurture Through Nature patients took some tomato plants home and were amazed at how many tomatoes they had and that they’d do it all themselves.”
Karen has more plans for the garden, including developing it for education and expanding its value to the community, allowing the garden to host year-round activities.
Sitting in the sunshine reflecting on her achievements, Karen said: “We’ve developed it over ten years into the beautiful space it is now.
“It’s taken us 10 years to get to where we are, but we’ve still got projects in the garden we need to complete. The work doesn’t stop!”