Fantastic Harrogate hospital charity marks 60th anniversary with reopening of a special place for patients

A hard-working charity group which is celebrating 60 years of supporting Harrogate District Hospital is delighted to have reopened its popular Friends Garden after a major refurbishment.

The garden originally opened in 2001 and has been maintained by the Friends of Harrogate Hospital ever since offering a tranquil space and bringing out the human aspect of caring.

Always well used by patients, visitors and staff, the new-look garden is now accessible to all with an automatic door from the main corridor which enables people with a walking impairment or who are in a wheelchair access both into and out of the garden.

On hand to cut the ribbon was Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon who praised both the new improvements and the Friends charity.

“It was an absolute joy to be invited to cut the ribbon and officially open the Friends Garden after its recent renovations,” said Mr Gordon.

“We are so lucky to have such a fantastic local hospital charity, and a local community who all chip in.”

Among the new features in the Friends Garden at Harrogate District Hospital are Happy to Chat benches, a Bug Hotel created by the students from Horticap, detailed information boards and a beautiful Tree of Life.

John Fox, Chair of the Friends of Harrogate Hospital (FOHH) said, “The Tree of Life was designed and installed by Steve Blaylock, a local metal sculptor.

“It was inspired by the enduring value of the garden to all who use it and reflects the selfless donation of both organs and tissue.

“We worked closely with Dr Sarah Marsh of the Organ Transplant & Tissue Committee.

“We have also introduced Happy to Chat benches, an idea started by Allison Owen-Jones in Cardiff in 2019 and which has now spread around the world when she created a simple sign reading ‘Happy to Chat Bench. Sit here if you don’t mind someone stopping to say hello!’

“We hope it will lead to passers-by sitting down if they’re open to a friendly conversation.”

After the cutting of the ribbon, 50 guests joined the celebration in Herriots Coffee Lounge in the hospital, which the Friends held to thank all those involved in this project.

John Fox said “We greatly appreciate the help provided by so many companies and organisations and we recognised their support by presenting them with a Membership Certificate of Enterprise Friends.

“We presented Certificates to Morgan Sindall Construction, Moortown Group, Marlborough Brickwork, Metallic Fabrications, G&H Building Services, Steve Blaylock, Horticap, EnviroVent and Harrogate Integrated Facilities (HIF).”

The Friends also presented Certificates of Appreciation to individuals involved in the works including Steven Fry (Morgan Sindall Construction), Carolyn Rothwell, the hospital’s volunteer gardener, and Ian Hutchison (HIF), and to Trevor and the late Janet Chapman and Hayley Day for their advice on accessibility.

In recognition of companies and groups who have supported the Friends through their 60th Anniversary celebrations, the Friends also presented Enterprise Friends Certificates to Tewit Band, local radio - Your Harrogate, Cone Exchange and Harrogate Theatre.