Summer Open Garden Events at Stratford Hospital: A Celebration of Nature, Wellbeing, and Community

This summer, we were proud to host a series of Open Garden events at the beautiful green spaces we’ve cultivated at Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital in partnership with the SWFT Health & Wellbeing Hubs. These vibrant gardens designed to nurture biodiversity and support mental health became a welcoming haven for NHS staff, hospital patients, and members of the wider community.

A Space to Breathe, Connect, and Grow

The gardens were created with a clear purpose: to offer a restorative environment where people can reconnect with nature, find moments of peace, and engage in meaningful activities. Nestled within an urban setting, these nature-positive spaces are home to flourishing plants, buzzing pollinators, and a growing sense of community.

They also serve as a vital base for our Green Therapy group, where participants help maintain the gardens while developing employability skills and improving their mental wellbeing. The therapeutic power of nature is at the heart of everything we do and this summer, we invited others to experience it first-hand.

Workshops That Inspired and Uplifted

Throughout the Open Garden events, we ran a variety of interactive workshops designed to spark creativity, deepen understanding of biodiversity, and promote relaxation. Highlights included:

🎨 Pebble Painting: A calming, creative activity that brought colour and joy to the garden.

🐦 Bird Box Building: Hands-on sessions that supported local wildlife and gave participants a sense of accomplishment.

🌬️ Tai Chi in the Garden and Hospital Wellbeing Hub: Gentle movement and mindfulness in the fresh air and wellbeing hub, perfect for unwinding.

🛠️ Tool Sharpening Demonstrations: Practical skills for gardeners of all levels.

🐝 Biodiversity Audits: Guided explorations to discover the rich variety of life thriving in our green spaces.

🥕 Vegetable Harvesting: A celebration of sustainable growing, with fresh produce picked straight from the soil.

Each workshop was designed to be inclusive, engaging, and rooted in the values of wellbeing, sustainability, and community learning.

Gratitude to Our Garden Community

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who attended the Open Garden events. Your enthusiasm and curiosity helped make each day special. A heartfelt thank you also goes out to our dedicated volunteers, whose time, energy, and passion were instrumental in planning and running the workshops. Your commitment continues to grow the impact of these gardens far beyond their borders.

Together, we’ve created more than just a garden. We’ve cultivated a space where nature, health, and community flourish side by side and it has been great to work alongside SWFT Health and Wellbeing Hub and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.