Chelsea Flower Show garden opens at city hospital

The garden was originally made for the Chelsea Flower Show, but was relocated to Chapel Allerton Hospital

A show garden which was moved to its permanent home at a hospital in Leeds after having starred in the Chelsea Flower Show has officially been opened to patients.

The Stroke Association’s Garden of Recovery was moved 200 miles (322km) from London to Leeds to be replanted at Chapel Allerton Hospital.

The area where the garden is now located was previously described as a "drab, dark, concrete space", but it has been transformed with thousands of plants and four large trees.

Those behind the move said it was hoped the garden would be a peaceful place for stroke patients to escape the wards.

The garden's designer, Miria Harris, from London, had a stroke in her early 40s, which initially affected her ability to speak and form words.

She said nature had played a big role in her recovery and she wanted to support other stroke patients in a similar way.

Speaking in the finished garden, Ms Harris told the BBC: "Everyone is saying, ‘this is it, we’ve got it here and opened the garden’, but actually, it’s just the beginning of how the garden will be experienced."

Ms Harris explained that the Yorkshire Dales had inspired the design, particularly the "incredible trees" she had seen that had endured powerful winds.

"They were majestic and strong and that was a wonderful metaphor for the strength you need to find to recover from a stroke," she said.

Kevin Doughty, a stroke patient at Chapel Allerton, said he could escape the "hustle and bustle" of the wards in the garden

Although Ms Harris said gardens would not solve everything, she added that they were "wonderful healing spaces".

Kevin Doughty, a patient at Chapel Allerton Hospital, suffered a stroke on 18 May this year.

Sitting out in the newly opened garden, he said: "It’s so beautiful. When you’re in a hospital environment and you can escape into this, it just takes you into a different place altogether."

He added it was a place he could sit with his family, which took him out of the "hustle and bustle" of the wards.

"There are people who are down here all the time reading books. It’s very popular," Mr Doughty said.

Four large trees have been planted as part of the new garden at Chapel Allerton Hospital

Phil Wood, CEO of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said the garden was "absolutely tremendous".

"This used to be a very drab, dark, concrete space, and we were delighted when the team looked at our entry and thought it was the perfect spot for the garden," he added.

"We know this kind of environment is wonderful for helping recovery, so we’re hugely proud."

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