A NEW garden has been opened at Bridgwater Community Hospital to commemorate 10 years since the founding of the institution.

The garden features raised beds and benches for patients and visitors to use during their time at the hospital. Generous contributions from Bridgwater Hospital League of Friends, Bradfords, Wrencon Ltd and Love Musgrove enabled the project to materialise.

Mayor of Bridgwater, Jacqui Solomon, officially opened the garden and was joined by NHS staff and those involved in creating the garden.

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“The fact that this new garden links to the one below is great, and it’s great to come up and see the continuation. The raised beds are a great accessibility feature, with patients able to sit and garden”, Jacqui reflected.

A coffee morning was also held in conjunction with the grand opening, which was run by volunteers of the Bridgwater Hospital League of Friends. The League of Friends, which was founded in 1955, has supported Bridgwater Community Hospital since its inception in 2014, having purchased over £200,000 of additional equipment during this period.

The new garden was the brainchild of Norma Coombes, Senior Matron at Bridgwater Community Hospital for over nine years.

Speaking about her involvement, Norma said: “The idea sprung out of a visit to Monkton Elm Garden Centre, where there was a poster advertising the work of Jenny Short. I contacted her and she put together a whole design for us.”

“It was coming up to the tenth anniversary in April time, and I went to the Estates Team at the local NHS who went out and sourced quotes for the work. Bradfords kindly offered to provide all the wood for free.”

All the plants arrived on a Saturday and were planted by Norma and a small team of helpers. Raised beds feature plants ranging from clematis, cyclamens, pansies, aquilegia and sedums.

Tracy Evans, Service Group Director for Neighbourhoods and Communities at NHS Somerset Foundation Trust, said: “I think it’s an excellent asset for the hospital, and well done to Norma for having the initiative to take the project forward. I think it will look beautiful in the summer months.”

Eddie Marsh, member and volunteer with the Bridgwater League of Friends, said: “It was well worth the effort and it’s a real bonus for the patients who already like sitting up on the patio. In the summer it will be a real oasis of calm.”

Bridgwater League of Friends are looking for new members to help with fundraising and events. All members are volunteers and help raise funds solely for the benefit of Bridgwater Community Hospital. To find out more, visit: https://www.bridgwaterhospitalleagueoffriends.org/