A NEW therapy garden has been unveiled in Bromsgrove which is designed to support people with dementia.

Meadow Green – the newly named garden at Meadow Ward in Bromsgrove has undergone a complete transformation to create a specialist therapy and sensory garden for patients in their care.

The ward, which is run by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, is situated within New Haven on the site of Princess of Wales Community Hospital and provides specialist inpatient care and treatment for older adults with dementia.

The garden has undergone extensive groundwork and landscaping, making way for the new garden buildings including a corner shop and potting shed; designed to recreate familiar everyday environments for patients.

The building interiors are fully customisable and can be transformed with artwork and props to replicate a village shop, café, hairdressers, and pub.

Clare McFadyen, occupational therapist on the ward said: “We are delighted to have this therapy environment for our patients. 

"The multisensory, multifunctional space enables our patients to engage in a range of meaningful, purposeful activities of daily living that research evidence tells us are important for health and wellbeing. 

“Assessments and observations are already highlighting the positive impact ‘Meadow Green’ is having on patient health and wellbeing”.

Robert Mackie, director of finance at the trust said: “We’re incredibly proud to unveil Meadow Green following its transformation into a multi-purpose sensory garden.

“The project, which was initiated by staff on the ward, sought to create a safe space to engage patients in everyday activities they might experience outside of a ward environment.

“As you can see, this vision has become a reality, but this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of colleagues from across the trust, including our Estates and Facilities Team, Finance Team, the staff on Meadow Ward, as well as the trust’s Charitable Funds scheme, which part-funded the project.