New Therapy Garden at Homerton University Hospital

Quinn London is thrilled to announce the opening of the new fully accessible therapy garden at the Graham Stroke Unit, Homerton University Hospital.

Held on Tuesday July 16th,  it was attended by 85 guests, including patients, family members, and staff from across the Trust. The new garden, designed to provide a healing environment for rehabilitation, was made possible through the combined efforts and funding from Homerton Hope, Thames Water, Quinn London, and the Graham therapy team, who raised £2,430 through a 10k run.

Quinn London, along with our subcontractors W. Portsmouth and FES Electrical, was proud to support this initiative both financially and through volunteering efforts to assemble the necessary equipment and structures. This four-week project involved over 50 hours of donated time from a variety of operatives.

The garden’s design and features were thoughtfully developed through input from patient, family, and staff focus groups, inspired by the National Clinical Stroke Guidelines, 2023.

This tranquil space now allows patients and their families to spend quality time together away from the ward’s clinical environment. Gardens are essential for holistic health, with nature-based activities supported by substantial scientific evidence. Vincent, a current patient, expressed the garden’s impact, saying, “When you’re in bed all day looking at the ceiling, coming into the garden is like going on holiday. It’s so lovely to get into the fresh air and do something productive.”

 Equipped with raised planters at different heights and inclusive gardening tools, the garden enables all patients to engage in growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Horticultural therapy sessions offer patients the chance to participate in nature-based activities while enjoying fresh air and the sounds of birds.

The garden was officially opened by Donald Taylor, a local artist and former patient who has made a full recovery and wished to thank the Graham Stroke Unit team for the exceptional care he received. As the garden continues to grow and evolve, GSU patients are now fundraising for sturdy furniture to enhance the space further.

Emma Myers, Homerton NHS Trust Horticultural Therapist, praised the collaborative effort: “The fully accessible therapy garden at GSU would not have been possible without the fantastic and generous support of Quinn London. The Quinn team have gone above and beyond to support this incredible project to connect stroke patients to a beautiful nature space for wellbeing and rehabilitation. Thank you from all the patients and staff at Graham Stroke Unit.”

Quinn London is proud to have been a part of this meaningful project, contributing to a space that will significantly benefit patients and their families for years to come.