Our Gardens
Air Arts has created a number of beautiful gardens across the hospitals for patients, staff and visitors, for healing and for remembrance.
The best healthcare treats the whole person, and at Air Arts, we provide a wide variety of creative services to make the experience of being in hospital better for everyone.
Laura Waters, Head of Arts and Director, National Arts in Hospitals Network (NAHN)
The Halo garden, Queen's Hospital Burton
The Halo garden is on the main access road at Queen’s Hospital, Burton. It was designed by Glaswegian landscape architects ‘erz’ in 2020 in response to the need for social distancing during the pandemic. The planting is arranged on circles with a two-metre diameter to include wooden panelling and a particular choice of trees and shrubs, chosen for their connection to healing.
The Intensive Care Unit garden, the Royal Derby Hospital
The ICU patient garden is on level 2 of the Royal Derby Hospital with private access for ICU staff and patients. The garden was created during the pandemic to enable ICU patients to access the outdoors. It includes a large-scale woodland mural and a family of willow hares tucked round a corner to provide a peaceful, beautiful space to access natural daylight and sunshine.
The Healing garden, the Royal Derby Hospital
The healing garden at the Royal Derby Hospital is at the front of the building on the right-hand side near to the coronary care unit. It was established in 2018, thanks to funding from Tesco, and includes several willow bird sculptures by local artist Emma Parkins, a curved bench, stepping stones and several flower beds for bulbs to be planted into. An interpretation panel is placed on the adjacent wall to raise awareness of services available through the hospital to bereaved families.
The space provides a tranquil and welcoming area for people to come and remember friends and family who have sadly died at our hospitals, providing a positive tribute to people through the symbols of renewal and growth of plants.
