Wellbeing garden to be developed at Royal Oldham Hospital

The new garden will see the existing space, known as The Fountain Gardens, at the centre of the hospital campus redeveloped, including the installation of new features and the replacement of some existing aspects.

The wellbeing garden is set to be delivered as part of a national Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) programme in partnership with the NHS, which is looking to develop a network of gardens in major healthcare institutions across the country.

The Fountain Gardens have been a part of the hospital for around 90 years (Image: RHS)

Built in the 1930s, The Fountain Gardens have served as "a cherished centrepiece of the hospital grounds for over 90 years" according to a design and access statement prepared by the RHS.

The site currently has a few scattered trees, central planting beds and a fountain feature, with the space used by patients, visitors, hospital staff, students, and the local community for outdoor seating and lunch breaks.

As part of the new wellbeing garden, the space will see a refurbishment of the fountain and upgrading of the filtration system, the replacement of existing hardstanding, and installation of two free-standing garden shelters, along with new trees, shrubs, and landscaped borders.

A bird's-eye view of the wellbeing garden's design (Image: RHS)

A new circular internal path will be provided to improve access to the full garden, which will lead to the new garden shelters at either end of the site.

Planning documents have said the garden has been designed by Adam Frost, an award-winning garden designer and a Wellbeing Gardens Programme Manager.

The design and access statement said the new wellbeing garden would have a positive impact on those who would use it.

Magdalena Firganek-Fulcher CMLI, Senior Landscape Architect at the RHS who prepared the document, said: "It is also a well known fact, now supported by increased amount or research, that plants, greenspaces and regular, daily connection to nature can improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing and build their resilience and ability to cope in daily life."

An Oldham Council planning officer agreed that the new garden would provide benefits to the communtiy, saying it would "make a positive contribution to health" and "achieve a positive community outcome".

The plans were recommended for approval and were formally given the green light on May 27.