Television gardener Katie Rushworth opens new outdoor space at BRI

The garden was made possible thanks to a generous £44,840 grant from NHS Charities Together which Bradford Hospitals Charity (BHC) secured.

This new resource is situated on the Smith Lane side of the hospital and will be a place where colleagues, patients and visitors can come and sit in quiet contemplation if they need a break away from the office or wards.

Television gardener Katie Rushworth and Professor Mel Pickup (Image: T&A)

Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director responsible for BHC at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Saj Azeb, said: “The reflection garden is an important addition to our Trust, and we hope it will enhance the mental and physical wellbeing of our patients, families and colleagues here at Bradford Royal infirmary.

“The pandemic and subsequent years have been tough on all of us and this quiet area recognises that we all need space to remember those we have loved and lost.

“The garden has also been designed as an uplifting area for renewal and reflection. We sincerely hope that colleagues, patients and visitors will find it a safe haven, where they can come to pause, take a break and make the most of this wonderful, green space.”

Television gardener Katie Rushworth was the special guest at the opening (Image: T&A)

The reflection garden is in a tranquil, peaceful setting, situated close to Prospect Cottage which is home to the Trust’s Spiritual Pastoral and Religious Care (SPARC) team, where people can access wellbeing support and advice.

Head of Fundraising for BHC, Lisa Williams, said: “BHC is proud to have secured this funding from NHS Charities Together and we would like to thank them for their generosity as, without it, this new space wouldn’t have been possible.

“This lovely, new setting serves as a visible and important area where people can come together to reflect, remember and take time out of their day to get away from the main hospital and, most importantly, take precious time out for themselves.

The ribbon being cut at the ceremony (Image: T&A)

“This garden builds on the supportive work BHC has been doing for several years now, to ensure our NHS colleagues’ wellbeing is supported and this new space allows them to pause for a moment and reflect, while surrounded by nature in inner city Bradford.”

The garden was based on a design idea by Roger Scales from Bradford Council’s Landscape, Design and Conservation team and built by the Trust’s Estates and Gardening teams over a period of eight weeks.

Katie Rushworth talking to Professor Mel Pickup in the new garden (Image: T&A)

Estates’ Projects Officer, Samantha Hunter, added: “After being involved in the planning of the reflection garden since it was first talked about at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it has been a special project to deliver.

“On behalf of the Estates’ and Gardening teams that were involved in its creation, I hope everyone enjoys this much-needed reflective and tranquil space.”

The new outdoor space is ideal for reflection (Image: T&A)

Morgan Sindall Construction, which recently completed work on the Trust’s maternity assessment centre, also donated plants and provided volunteers to work on the reflection garden as part of its commitment to supporting the local community.

Ben Hall, Yorkshire area director for Morgan Sindall, said: “While delivering the new maternity assessment centre we were keen to find ways we can support the hospital, its patients and its staff.

"We’re proud to have helped bring the reflection garden to life and we hope this wonderful new area acts as a place of calm that will bring comfort and support to all those who use it.”