End of life patients and their families can now enjoy a serene and private space at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The Butterfly Garden, funded through the Alan Miller Will Trust, involved the transformation of an unused courtyard into a tranquil area.

The palliative care and voluntary services teams identified the need for patients and their loved ones to have a calm and private place to use when visiting the hospital.

Rachel Targett, end of life care specialist nurse, said: “The Butterfly Garden provides an oasis of calm, a much-needed peaceful space for palliative patients and those dearest to them. In a busy, acute hospital setting, this is of huge benefit and we are excited to see this finally open.”

Accessible even on a hospital bed, the garden has scented shrubs and plants that patients will be able to smell, with slightly enclosed areas for privacy.

The name ‘butterfly garden’ was chosen as butterflies are recognised in healthcare as a signal for a difficult conversation, and as a method of communicating that a patient is coming to the end of their lives, is receiving end of life care, or has recently died.

Debbie Anderson, head of charity at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, said: “Whilst the garden was completed in 2021, we have only just been able to celebrate the opening due to Covid-19 restrictions. Our thanks go to Gerry and Pauline Smith, executors of the Alan Miller Charitable Trust, who selected this and other projects to benefit from this wonderful legacy.”

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can support the charity and other projects, follow @UHDCharity on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, visit UHDcharity.org or contact the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity office on 0300 019 4060/8449.