by Holly Chapman | 10 Mar 26 | Landscape Architecture, Nature & Biodiversity, News
A Maggie’s cancer support centre will be built inside the grounds of Maidstone Hospital which will provide free, tailored practical and emotional support for people at all stages of cancer.
Designed by landscape architects J&L Gibbons, a garden will celebrate natural and local materials to create a space that is beautiful and atmospheric.
J&L Gibbons, who also designed the landscape for the Natural History Museum, will integrate the garden into the centre.
Maggie’s says it understands the “importance of contact with nature for mental and physical health in creating an inspiring experience.”
The centre will support the 11,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Kent as well as those living with cancer, family and friends.
Sarah Kemsley, chair of Maggie’s Kent fundraising board, comments on the new centre:
“I am confident that people who have made their lives in Kent and had experience of Kent Oncology Centre will want to make sure that there is something more, a beautiful sanctuary of support, for generations to come.”
The new centre will be built in the grounds of the hospital, part of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, and will open by 2028.
by The Pro Landscaper Team | 06 Oct 25 | Commercial Landscaping, Domestic Landscaping, From the Mag, Long Reads
Jodie Walters shares her advice for dealing with back pain when working on physically demanding projects for Back Care Awareness Week, an annual campaign led by the charity BackCare.
Working in the landscape industry involves a lot of sustained and repetitive movements, such as bending, kneeling and lifting. It’s important to keep the body and the back fit and strong so that it can safely deal with those repetitive sustained movements and positions.
You can prevent back pain by having a good baseline level of fitness that complements the demands of the job by doing regular cardiovascular exercise and strengthening exercises.
- If you’re doing lots of heavy and manual tasks, build these up gradually or you risk injuring yourself if you do too much too soon.
- If you’re having to work in similar positions for long periods of time, take regular rests and movement breaks.
- Maintaining general back stretches and exercises each day can help maintain flexibility and strength.
If you do have back pain, take a ‘little and often’ approach, rather than long periods of heavy work.
- Pace yourself and build up physical work gradually, take more regular movement breaks to do stretches and change position.
- Take short term, appropriate pain medication to help you stay active at the advice of your doctor.
- Above all – keep moving. You may have to reduce your workload temporarily and build back up gradually, but keeping moving helps your muscles from getting too tight and causing more pain.
Positive thinking and managing your stress can help improve your sleep and help you relax. This is important when dealing with back pain as the more tension you hold in your body, the more you’ll feel pain. A few ways to manage your mindset include:
Manage the stressors in your life
Ongoing unresolved distress in your life will wind up your body’s fight and flight system, raising tension in your back muscles which is likely to cause more frequent flare-ups. Some of your daily stressors within your home or work life can be difficult to keep on top of but if you can find ways to manage these better, you will find that your back will be much less troublesome.
Focus on a structured plan to help you sleep better
Refreshing sleep is essential for our general health and well-being. Avoiding using technology including computers, mobile phones and television before bed and having a bedtime routine leading up to sleep are simple strategies you can use to make refreshing sleep more likely.
Clear your mind. If you change your thinking, you could change your back pain
Thinking negatively can exacerbate pain. You can try what’s called the 7-11 breathing method to calm your body and bring your focus away from your pain and negative thoughts. Breathe in for a count of seven, and out for 11. Do this for 5-10 minutes and you should find your body start to relax and begin helping clear your mind.
Whilst these tips may not work immediately, persevere with them. You should see gradual improvements overtime, but if your back pain worsens and you’re having problems with numbness or with bladder/bowel function it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.
Words by Jodie Walters, a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.
Patients can find general information and advice about managing back pain here: Back pain – NHS
You can self-refer to our hospital for NHS physiotherapy treatment, for those in the West Midlands or able to travel to us: Royal Orthopaedic Hospital – Therapy
Read the full October edition of Pro Landscaper here.
by Holly Chapman | 16 Jul 25 | News
Natural England is funding courses aimed at nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals across Sussex to encourage the use of outdoor space in treating those with poor mental health.
The training builds on evidence that being outside can help lead to lower blood pressure, a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes.
With sessions spread over five months, attendees should have the confidence and competence to work with groups in outdoor settings once the course is finished.
Alongside a formal training accreditation, the course is suited to healthcare professionals who support children, young people and adults.
The training will be delivered by Circle of Life Rediscovery, a community based in Laughton, near Lewes.
Sarah Davies, Natural England’s principal advisor for partnerships in Sussex and Kent says the use of outdoor spaces should not be underestimated. He adds:
“We know there are countless benefits to connecting with nature – it makes us feel better, physically and mentally.”
There have been 36 members of NHS staff who have undertaken the course since 2023, which also offers an ITC level 3 qualification.
by Bethany Vann | 04 Jul 23 | News, Topics
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is offering all NHS workers free admission to any of its five gardens, in recognition of their work and celebration of the NHS’ 75th anniversary.
NHS employees will be given free access to any of the five gardens from 5 July, which marks the official day of the NHS’ 75th anniversary, through to 11 July, when they present their staff ID badge at the garden’s welcome desks, advance booking is not necessary.
The charity’s five gardens are RHS Bridgewater in Salford (Greater Manchester), RHS Wisley in Guildford (Surrey), RHS Rosemoor in Torrington (Devon), RHS Hyde Hall in Chelmsford (Essex) and RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate (Yorkshire).
Helena Pettit, RHS director of shows and gardens, says; “Inviting NHS staff to our RHS Gardens free-of-charge is just a small way for us to thank them for all the amazing work that they do. We hope as many NHS workers as possible are able to take up the offer and will enjoy some time away from work surrounded by plants and nature.”
The RHS and NHS recently collaborated on a number of hospital gardens around the UK, with the first ‘NHS Wellbeing Garden’ opening at University Hospital Lewisham last year.
For further information about visiting RHS Gardens, click here.
by Bethany Vann | 01 Jun 23 | Nature & Biodiversity, News, Topics
The Wildlife Trusts and the Greener NHS programme at NHS England are inviting people to engage with nature and wildlife for the betterment of their wellbeing throughout June by participating in the “UK’s largest nature challenge”, 30 Days Wild.
The month-long initiative encourages people to connect with nature and local wildlife every day for the month of June in an “easy and accessible way.”
Evidence shows that prolonged engagement with nature has great benefits for both a person’s physical and mental wellbeing but also for nature conservation, says The Wildlife Trusts.
As part of the NHS’s 75th birthday celebrations, the Greener NHS programme at NHS England is partnering with The Wildlife Trusts to highlight the work of NHS workers who create and maintain green spaces.
Greener NHS will be showcasing NHS gardens and green spaces across the NHS estate that support biodiversity, improve air quality and provide health benefits for staff and patients.
Dr Amir Khan, NHS doctor and vice-president of The Wildlife Trusts, says: “Being in and around nature is so important for our health and happiness, whether that’s exercising outdoors, breakfasting in the garden, or lying in the park and enjoying the birds. I am delighted the NHS is encouraging people to get outside this June. Taking time each day to pause and purposefully observe and enjoy nature can do wonders for our wellbeing, while motivating us to do our bit to help wildlife. I urge people right across the British Isles to get involved in 30 Days Wild this year!”
In a survey conducted last year, over 74% of nearly 1,000 participants said 30 Days Wild improved their mental health, while 76% said the challenge improved their relationship with nature and 81% said it motivated them to do more to protect nature.
Research by The Wildlife Trusts and University of Derby in 2020 revealed that people’s health improved by 30% after participating in 30 Days Wild.
by The Pro Landscaper Team | 05 Apr 23 | Commercial Landscaping, Garden Design, Nature & Biodiversity, News, Topics
The Wellbeing Garden at the University Hospital Lewisham (UHL) has been completed.
The original concept for the garden began in 2020 when Maria Leong, an anaesthetist registrar at the hospital, applied to the Healing Gardens Programme, a collaboration between the RHS and the NHS to create green spaces at hospitals around the UK where “staff and patients can reflect and recharge”.
Designed by award-winning landscape designer Adam Frost in consultation with the RHS and UHL community, the first phase of the Wellbeing Garden opened in June 2022, with the remaining elements scheduled to take place later. “The garden makes use of an existing but under-utilised area and is zoned for individuals to sit quietly, spaces for social gatherings and a working garden where people can get involved and grow their gardening skills,” a statement explained.
Blakedown Landscapes, in collaboration with UHL, the RHS and Adam Frost, was part of the project team that delivered the community space, along with volunteers, community groups and NHS staff. Initial works, delivered in 2022, included the demolition of old steps and paving and the cutting back of overgrown shrubs. Hard landscaping works saw the laying of gravel and brick paving paths and the installation of outdoor seating, together with planting and wildflower turf to complete.
The final elements of the project, carried out this year, have seen Blakedown installing community vegetable beds with raised ends and sufficient space on all sides to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for everyone. Seven espalier fruit trees and four heavy standard trees have been planted along with the delivery of auxiliary works including the installation of lighting circuits and bollards.
As part of the original project, the RHS worked with the local community and NHS staff to engage and train more than 200 local volunteers to improve their skills and ensure the garden is well cared for in the future. The Lewisham Healing Garden will provide the blueprint for further gardens built as part of the Healing Gardens programme at hospitals around the UK.
Chris Wellbelove, director at Blakedown Landscapes, said, “Sometimes our projects sit closer to our hearts, and that couldn’t be truer than that of the Wellbeing Garden at the University Hospital Lewisham. We understand how green spaces can impact positively on our mental health and well-being and having a resource such as this community garden will provide staff, visitors and patients with a place to come; to meet friends, garden or just to sit and be mindful. Blakedown is proud and delighted to have been able to collaborate on this project which will add social value to all who use it.”
