Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales playground opens

A new purpose-built garden to provide a therapy space for children outdoors has been opened at Cardiff's Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales.

Five-year-old Neve from Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taff, got a chance to try out the play area.

She has been a patient for the past seven weeks after being admitted with an inflammation of her brain called Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis.

It affected the left side of her body and she needs daily physiotherapy.

BBC Wales health correspondent Owain Clarke talked to physiotherapist Natalie Gragasin and Neve.

Patients at Wales' only children's hospital can play outside for the first time - thanks to a new purpose-built garden.

It includes seating areas, a maze and play equipment and has been designed to help children recover from treatment.

A therapy zone includes sloping floors and artificial grass so children can receive physiotherapy in the fresh air.

The garden had £1.6m in funding from the Welsh Government and £250,000 from the Noah's Ark charity.

Part of the garden has a jungle theme with a spray-painted mural and palm trees - during the evening the space is lit by colourful LED lights.

Although each ward in the the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales has an indoor play area - until now the children did not have a dedicated outdoor space.