St Richard’s Hospice in Worcestershire provides free, specialist, palliative care for patients living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and supports their families.
The hospice is surrounded by beautiful green spaces which can be enjoyed by its patients, their loved ones, staff and volunteers.
Its green spaces include: a courtyard garden filled with flowering plants, a lake which is home to a family of ducks, a woodland area and large garden which attracts a variety of wildlife and features a memorial area.
The hospice’s grounds feature a range of plants, shrubs and trees to ensure a biodiverse habitat for insects, birds and small mammals.
Bedrooms on the hospice’s In-patient Unit look out across its gardens and lake, and rooms have their own outdoor space.
Green spaces are used by patients and carers for therapeutic activities.
For example, patients can simply enjoy spending time on their bedroom patio taking in the sights and sounds of nature, including a range of visiting birds. Nature for Wellbeing workshops see patients and carers outside in the courtyard garden learning about plant species and taking part in activities.
Bereavement support sessions have been held in the hospice’s gardens too, including children’s activity days in the summer.
Whatever the weather, the St Richard’s green spaces are calm, tranquil places for all to enjoy.
The hospice joined the NHS Forest in 2014 planting a magnolia tree in their garden. Dame Moira Gibb and Lesley Murphy took park in the tree planting.
