NHS Lanarkshire’s Green Health Partnership (GHP) has teamed up with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to create a vibrant outdoor space to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
With the first phase now complete, young people supported by the service will be able to access the benefits of being out in nature.
To celebrate this milestone, team members from the NHS Lanarkshire GHP and CAMHS, along with Clydesdale Community Initiatives Scotland (CCI) who developed the garden with their volunteers, took to the green space on Wednesday 1 October to officially mark it as open.
New features include the installation of a shed to safely store hand tools, a bug hotel to encourage biodiversity, aromatic herbs including thyme, lavender and rosemary, and a variety of fruit trees and berry bushes that can all contribute to gentle activities for service users to enjoy.
The garden is within the existing courtyard at Udston Hospital, Hamilton where children and young people supported by CAMHS, as well as NHS Lanarkshire staff, can access this therapeutic area to support their mental wellbeing.
Laura Jack, Service Manager – Specialist Children’s Health Service Unit, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We are delighted with the refurbishment of our Lanarkshire CAMHS garden. This has brought new life to the outdoor space, creating a calm and inclusive environment for children and young people.
“It’s now a lovely green space to enjoy and an opportunity to connect with the outdoors – something our service users told us is important to them.
“For our staff, the space is a source of pride and positivity, reinforcing our commitment to wellbeing, using our outdoor spaces and all the benefits this can bring. We’re especially grateful to our partners whose support and collaboration made this transformation possible.”
Vicki Trim, Health Improvement Lead – University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, said: “Access to nature and green spaces can have a really positive impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
“This project is a great example of how working together can create meaningful spaces that make a real difference to people’s lives. I’d like to thank all who came along to the launch, along with the GHP, CCI and NHS Charities Together who made the garden a possibility.
“We’re delighted to see this project come to life and look forward to seeing how it supports the wellbeing of those who use it.”
Ruth McElhinney, Community Development Manager at CCI, added: “CCI was thrilled to be able to contribute to the building of the new garden.
“Our participants built picnic tables and raised timber beds in our workshop at Langloch Farm in Lanark, subsequently filling them with herbs and berry bushes which had also been grown on our site. We planted a native broadleaved hedge and nine fruit trees as well as building and installing a bug hotel and storage shed.
“The CCI volunteers involved really enjoyed seeing the transformation of this space and gave such positive feedback about their experience developing it.
“We celebrated the launch by bringing our own Clyde Valley apple juice to toast with NHS Lanarkshire staff. I hope that the staff and clients of the CAMHS unit enjoy using the garden for many years ahead.”
Jon Goodwin, Head of Grants at NHS Charities Together, commented: “There’s a strong link between spending time outdoors and improved health and wellbeing. That’s why, through the Greener Communities Fund, delivered in partnership with Hubbub and funded by Starbucks, we are improving access to quality green spaces in healthcare settings and beyond.
“These projects play an important role in our wider commitment to help improve the health of the patients, staff, and communities of the NHS, and in turn reduce the pressure on overstretched NHS services. We very much look forward to hearing how NHS Lanarkshire staff and the children and young people supported by CAHMS benefit from the vibrant and accessible new garden at Udston Hospital, made possible by the Greener Communities Fund.”
Whether you’re a child or young person and struggling with how you’re feeling or you’re a parent or carer worried about a child, you’re not alone and there is support available. You can use this directory to find out what is available in Lanarkshire.
