The Maternity Bereavement team worked hard during 2023 to raise funds to renovate the Delivery Suite’s bereavement room. Facing bereavement in the maternity unit causes unimaginable pain to the families involved. We have now been able to create a comforting space for families to spend the last precious moments with their baby.
Thanks to significant grants from the B&Q Foundation and 4Louis Charity we reached our target. The renovated bereavement room will give families a comfortable space to spend as much time with their baby as possible and prepare to say goodbye.
We successfully created a Wellbeing Garden within the heart of the Women and Children’s Services (WACS) building at Watford General in 2024. Thanks to a generous personal donation from Emma Willis, who filmed at the hospital, and the invaluable contributions of time and materials from Wickes, Watford, the garden is a serene reality. The garden offers a haven for both patients and the wider community, fostering a sense of peace and wellbeing for all.
The space used to be a dull and uninviting courtyard, containing a fire escape staircase, air conditioning units and a worn-out bench and picnic table. Our makeover has transformed the 20m x 9m space into a vibrant Wellbeing Garden. We wanted to bring light and colour to the entire building by introducing numerous planters filled with flowers and greenery to create a positive and uplifting atmosphere.
The garden is designed so that patients and staff have their own areas. Covered seating areas are available, with solar-powered lighting being utilised and fencing to hide unattractive elements such as the air conditioning units. We painted the walls to enhance lighting, and access to the garden is granted via keypad to keep it secure.
Within the green space, we have sown a variety of plants and foliage to encourage wildlife such as birds and butterflies. It gives patients access to fresh air, daylight and the ability to remain mobile. For staff, this area offers a reprieve and a place to reflect and regroup, away from the constant demands of the wards and hospital setting.
The transformation seeks to make the space usable throughout the year and promotes wellbeing for patients and staff alike.
A Wellbeing Garden offers a peaceful escape from daily stress, lowering cortisol levels and promoting relaxation through interaction with nature.
Exercise improves cardiovascular health, and sunlight exposure aids in vitamin D production for overall wellbeing.
Time in a garden reduces anxiety and depression symptoms, while the sensory experience enhances mood through colours, scents, and textures.
Gardens serve as communal spaces, encouraging social interaction and community bonding.
Gardens support biodiversity and attract local wildlife.
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