The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) is a world class centre of excellence for the treatment and care of orthopaedics.
Horatio’s garden
In 2019, Horatio’s Garden Midlands opened at the Midland Centre for Spinal at RJAH. The main garden wraps around the spinal centre on two sides, with the planting in the existing courtyard being enhanced with flowers. Smooth paths ensure accessibility, whilst the glasshouse and garden therapy area feature raised beds and planters, enabling patients to grow their own plants, flowers and vegetables.
The design also incorporated a stunning magnolia tree, which was planted by the hospital’s namesake, Dame Agnes Hunt. Other features include: a garden room, wheelchair skills area, children’s play area and serpentine rill.
Professor Richardson’s Memorial Garden
In 2021, Professor Richardson’s Memorial Garden was opened as a lasting tribute to Professor James Richardson. It is located within a courtyard outside the hospital’s Baschurch Day Unit.
The garden features artwork commissioned by Professor Richardson’s widow, Shona. The art installations were produced by Oswestry-based charity Designs in Mind and reflect his important work on cartilage regeneration. Working with a team from the hospital, the concept flourished to produce a beautiful and tranquil garden space, with screen printed glass panels depicting stem cells, specialist “cloud trees” and bespoke landscaping.
The Queens Canopy
In 2022, 100 saplings were planted at RJAH, as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), and to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of RJAH relocating to its current site in Gobowen.
The trees have been planted around Captain Sir Tom Moore’s Path of Positivity – an evolving green space that honours Captain Sir Tom Moore’s legacy by providing a place of wellbeing for patients, staff and visitors.
Families with connections to the hospital have also been offered the opportunity to donate trees in memory of loved ones. In addition, RJAH Charity is enabling those who wish to support the planting sustainability initiative the opportunity to sponsor a tree for £20. Each tree will be allocated a unique tag and will be recorded in the hospital’s book of centenary trees.
The Alice Garden
In 2023, we are hoping to start building the new garden for Alice Ward – the dedicated children’s unit, that provides specialist advice, diagnosis and treatment, for children aged 0 to 18 years, with bone, joint and muscular disorders.
Full renovation of the current garden space is required to make it inclusive for all the children RJAH cares for, their families and hospital staff. The project will see the introduction of many new features including: a woodland walk, hornbeam trail, garden room, teaching room, a calming area, a sports area, a family zone, a covered canopy, bridge, vegetable patch and moon arches.
Operation Pollination Flower Meadow
In 2023, RJAH have signed up to Operation Pollination, a collaborative initiative with the Borderland Rotary Club. We are preparing a large bank of grass on the hospital’s field for use as a wildflower meadow.