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The area is located outside of the QEQM health records offices and it has already been frequently enjoyed over the summer. It’s the perfect space to step away from the office if you’re having a stressful day; or if you just need some peace and quiet.
The aim was to provide a sensory environment by using colourful and aromatic plants, herbs, water and windchimes. By utilising things such as these, the team hoped to cultivate an atmosphere of wellbeing and tranquillity.
A staff member who had a terminal illness and has recently passed away, found the garden a positive distraction to relax and discuss the plants with their friend and colleague. The garden is also proving useful for neurodivergent members of staff if they are feeling overstimulated in the office.
The space is maintained by some staff that volunteer over weekends and colleagues take it in turns to water the plants at the end of their shifts. They have also saved seeds to plant next year and have a mini greenhouse to shelter winter plants and grow new ones.
The health records team became one of 53 winners across Kent in the wellbeing awards, organised by mental health charity Mind, falling under the category for ‘NHS award’.
We would like to thank the QEQM estates team for helping to fix pallets to the walls, Youngs Nurseries Broadstairs who donated plants and herbs, and Cooling’s Garden Centre in Maidstone who supplied the arch feature.
