Image – L to R – Marie McKeown, Green Health Partnership Manager and Karen Mather, Team Leader – Quit Your Way.
Local pupils from various primary schools created an eye-catching mural within NHS Lanarkshire’s new King George V Community Garden, at University Hospital Wishaw, to promote keeping the wellbeing area smoke-free.
The striking design was developed in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire’s Quit Your Way team and the Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership (LGHP). Part of the LGHP, Clydesdale Community Initiatives Scotland (CCI) worked with pupils, mainly from Hareleeshill, St Thomas’s, and St Mary’s primary schools, as well as St Aidan’s Nurture Group, to provide additional creative flair to the therapeutic garden. This garden is used by NHS staff, patients, and local residents for its many green health benefits.
The mural covers the garden’s shed and serves as a friendly request to encourage residents not to smoke within the peaceful area.
Karen Mather, Team Leader – Quit Your Way, NHS Lanarkshire, commented: “I’d like to thank the school pupils involved in designing and creating this fantastic new mural, which aims to discourage people from smoking in the garden, keeping it a smoke-free area for all to enjoy.
“We understand that giving up smoking is not an easy thing to do, and all patients, staff, and visitors are welcome to call Quit Your Way for more information and support prior to their hospital visit. This can help ease any worries they may have about managing their nicotine withdrawals during their time here. Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is provided to patients to ensure they’re as comfortable as possible.”
Marie McKeown, Green Health Partnership Manager, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “The King George V Garden is part of NHS Lanarkshire’s broader initiative to promote green spaces across the area and provides an opportunity for everyone to use the space for its many health benefits.
“The community garden demonstrates how simple activities can have a profound impact on our wellbeing.
“We’re eager to raise awareness of this garden as a valuable community resource. It’s open to all members of the public and community groups for green health activities.
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to CCI for their work in delivering the hospital gardens, which we’ve been able to create thanks to the Greener Communities Fund, a partnership between NHS Charities Together and environmental charity Hubbub, funded by the Starbucks 5p cup.”
Ruth McElhinney, Community Development Manager, CCI, added: “All of the children we worked with really enjoyed seeing their designs brought to life by the mural artist, Jim Duncan.
“We have been involved with local schools to teach them about plants in a fun and exciting way. The children wanted to go with the message about no smoking because it’s bad for the bees and other pollinators.
“There will be a flower meadow as well as many more plants, so the no-smoking theme is perfect for the lovely garden.”
Quit Your Way can be contacted Monday to Friday, from 9am until 5pm.
To find out about stop smoking services and to access support to quit in your area, call the Quit Your Way helpline service on 0800 84 84 84 or visit QuitYourWay.scot.You can also visit your local Community Pharmacy for FREE stop smoking support.
