“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.”
Edward de Bono
The Therapeutic Garden at Stepping Hill
In 2001, The King's Fund launched a unique and innovative programme in London, entitled ‘Enhancing the Healing Environment'. The underlying ethos of the programme is to promote patient well-being and to foster a healing environment for patients, visitors and staff. The programme as a whole emphasises multidisciplinary team working within the Hospital, creative solutions, good design, and engagement with patients and the public.
In 2007 Stepping Hill Hospital began the development of a therapeutic courtyard garden within the Mental Health Unit as part of the King's Fund's Programme. A steering committee was set up which engaged Arc to manage the commissioning of artwork for the garden project through associate artist Jacqui Symons as project manager, who commissioned a range of artists to create mosaics, garden furniture and other artworks for the garden.
The artwork has been designed to complement and aid the sensory and healing aspects of the garden, developed from the same theme used for the design of the garden, which is to transform the existing paved area (concrete jungle) into a walk in the forest.
The garden will be formally opened in 2008, which it is hoped His Royal Highness Prince Charles will be invited to attend.
More information on the development of the Sensory Garden can be found here:
http://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/about/news/news-item/?doc=561