A healing garden at the Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) has won a major national prize.
The Critical Care Healing Garden was named Community Engagement Project of the Year at the prestigious Construction News Awards in London on Thursday.
Judges said: “This project really spoke and connected to the community, and helped the construction industry to think outside of the box.”
The garden was opened in September 2023 after an extensive community fundraising campaign led by Cornish explorer Sir Robin-Hanbury Tenison alongside the RCHT charity and critical care teams.
Funded entirely by charitable donations, the courtyard can accommodate two hospital beds as well as other critically-ill patients in wheelchairs, alongside their carers, families and even pets.
It is also one of the first gardens in the UK to be fitted with piped medical gases, making it accessible to even the most poorly patients, who can experience the outdoors and nature as part of their recovery.
Most days, the garden accommodates up to four patients, helping them to cope with their treatment and rehabilitation.
Much of the work was carried out by local companies, including landscape architects Lavigne Lonsdale and construction led by Cormac Ltd alongside Southwest Surfacing, with extensive input from patients and staff.
Donations of time and materials were made from organisations, groups and individuals across the county, including head gardeners from Heligan, Glendurgan and The Palace Gardener and artist Kurt Jackson.
Critical care matron Lisa Niemand and Roberta Fuller, associate director for major capital projects, picked up the award on behalf of RCHT.
“Winning this award means a huge amount to our critical care team,” said Lisa. “It recognises the input and collaboration of the whole community – patients, families, RCHT staff, contractors and suppliers, artists, fundraisers and more.
“This journey and garden wouldn't have been achieved without everyone working together and combining clinical need with hospital constraints to deliver our outstanding healing garden.”
Roberta thanked local contractors as well as businesses that had made generous donations. “All have played a massive role in delivering this outstanding space for our critically-ill patients,” she said.