Bournemouth, Health & Lifestyle | Posted on August 1st, 2025 | return to news

Tranquil garden for Bournemouth hospital patients

The garden will provide a tranquil space for critically unwell patients in the BEACH building at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Critically unwell patients, their loved ones and the staff who care for them will soon be able to enjoy being in a tranquil garden at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

As part of The BEACH Appeal, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity fundraised £89,000 to transform the balcony attached to the CCU into an accessible, tranquil garden. Dorset-based James Dean Creative Landscapes began work on the garden on Monday 14 July.

This space, designed with tranquillity and accessibility in mind, will enable patients to be wheeled into the garden in their beds so they can feel the sun on their skin or a gentle breeze while remaining connected to treatment. There will also be strategically placed power sockets, artwork, greenery and other meaningful details.

For families and young visitors, it will offer much-needed respite from the intense and sometimes distressing CCU atmosphere during their visits with loved ones.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity fundraising manager for The BEACH Appeal, Jessica Tyler, said: “We are amazed that we hit the fundraising target for this work just eight months after launching The BEACH Appeal in April 2024. It is a testament to the generosity of our community. I can’t wait for the day when the first patient uses this fantastic area.”

University Hospitals Dorset CCU deputy sister and rehab/follow-up nurse, Rachael Hopkins, said: “We’re incredibly excited to see work begin on the CCU Garden. Having such a beautiful, calming space away from the clinical environment will mean so much to patients and their loved ones. It will give them the chance to feel the fresh air on their face, relax and reconnect with nature.”

Previously, due to equipment transportation and staffing, it could take up to 90 minutes to safely take a patient outdoors, meaning outdoor access was limited. With the garden adjacent to the CCU, access to fresh air is possible within minutes.

CCU staff will have a dedicated, separate space in the garden to recharge. Previously, staff would need to leave the CCU entirely to walk to the nearest green space, during breaks, which was not always possible due to the distance and need to remain close to the unit for patient safety.

The CCU garden has been funded through generous gifts from Talbot Village Trust, the Morrisons Foundation, the Reed Foundation and supporters across Dorset.

To learn more and donate to enable more transformative projects through The BEACH Appeal, please visit: www.UHDcharity.org/BEACHappeal.