Strictly judge opens new garden area at Alder Hey Hospital
Shirley Ballas has backed the hospitals mental health project
Strictly Head Judge Shirley Ballas opened a special ‘Urban Foraging Station’ at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital today after it was showcased at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Funded by ‘Project Giving Back’, the garden is the creation of Hugh and Howard Miller and has been designed to support children’s mental and physical health by encouraging engagement with nature through foraging, sharing healthy food, play and relaxing.
The NHS’s 5 steps to mental wellbeing – connecting with people, being physically active, learning new skills, giving to others and mindfulness - have all been integrated into the garden’s design.
The garden won a Silver Gilt Award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show back in May and will now has a permanent home in front of Alder Hey’s new mental health inpatient Unit ‘Sunflower House’ which will open its doors this Autumn.