'Groundbreaking' ceremony at Royal Bournemouth Hospital for dementia Petal Garden

Ground has been officially broken to start a new Petal Garden project at Royal Bournemouth Hospital for the enjoyment of patients with dementia.

Sited adjacent to the wards where patients with dementia and delirium are most commonly treated, the Petal Garden will be the newest area of relaxation for patients, visitors and staff.

In the shape of five petals, the garden design will create a flower motif with one petal for each of the five wards where patients with dementia are cared for.

These patients will particularly benefit from positive engagement with the garden, as it will help to provide a sense of purpose and could even help to decrease their length of stay in hospital.

Nurses and staff were joined by workers from Winslade & Watton Construction to formally begin the transformation of the old, rarely used space into a fresh, vibrant area of beauty.

Dementia specialist nurse, Kelly Lockyer, was on hand at the ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony and says she and her colleagues are beyond excited that work on the development has commenced.

“It’s amazing to see work start on the Petal Garden,” says Kelly.

“We’re really looking forward to what will be a beautiful sensory garden that all of our patients with dementia and delirium will be able to enjoy and relax in.”

Designed by JPS Landscape Design and sponsored by Liverpool Victoria, it is hoped that work on the Petal Garden will be completed in around 10 weeks.