Step Exhibitions
Blossom Court Replanting, St Ann’s Hospital, Tottenham
Nominee Information
In 2020 we saw the completion of Blossom Court, a mental health inpatient building we designed for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, at St Ann’s Hospital in Tottenham. The building represents a new approach to design for mental health, with modern therapeutic spaces that promote direct and independent access to outdoor space. Fundamental to the design of the therapeutic environment is a unique two-storey arrangement which sees four wards stacked around two terraced courtyards, creating a positive focal point for patients, and calming views to
nature.
In August 2022, we made a visit to Blossom Court to speak with staff and a former service user about their experiences in creating the building and the impact it is having. During the visit we noticed that the courtyard gardens had deteriorated over time, especially over the long hot summer, and that they needed some TLC to bring them back to their former glory.
Knowing the importance of these garden spaces to the patient experience and their wellbeing and recovery, we asked the Trust if we could return with a team of volunteers and some fresh planting, to put some healthy green life back into the courtyard which was most in need. They accepted this offer and we assembled a team from our company to complete the work. Once finished, we opened the space back up to an appreciative audience of patients who had been watching the garden unfold with interest.
Speaking with the patients afterwards, it was great to hear how much they appreciated the new building and the environment it offers, especially the access they have to the outdoor courtyard space and the views to nature from inside the building. Seeing their enthusiasm for the new display of planting, a plan was agreed with the ward staff to involve the ward’s patients in the watering of the courtyard garden as much as it was safe to do so, to add a fulfilling activity to their day.
Total cost of the plants, compost and equipment totalled £1,000, however the impact to the wellbeing of patients will be significant.
“Having gardens or terraced areas built into the ward designs has been a great way for service users to access the outdoors when they need to, get fresh air, use the exercise bikes or to engage in some gardening. The areas are spaces that the wards have hosted BBQs, service users take time out, spend time listening to music or reading the paper in the sun. The gardens have great potential for growing colourful flowers and even herbs, bringing a connection with nature to the ward environments.” – Camilla Cox Occupational Therapist and Therapy Lead, Haringey Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust.
