Gardener's World presenter Adam Frost designs hospital garden

Plans for a new well-being garden outside the hospital in Turner Road have now been unveiled. 

Designed to be built in the approach towards the main hospital, the garden will include curved paths, wildflower areas and seating, along with a ‘dry’ garden featuring boulders and rocks.

The well-being garden aims to become an area appealing to both staff and patients alike and can visit to get away from the clinical setting and to connect with nature.

With beautiful wildflowers set to be planted, the area will also improve air quality, biodiversity and environmental resilience in the relatively urban location.

Adam, who is a Royal Horticultural Society ambassador, has designed the space as a thank you to the NHS for the support it has given his family.

He said: “In all honesty, without the NHS my family would be in a bit of a pickle.

"On a personal level, this is me saying thank you to everybody who works so hard within the NHS.”

The Royal Horticultural Society is working with the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust's (ESNEFT) wellbeing team to create the garden, partly funded by generous donations from supporters and donors.

Icon - Adam Frost sat in a garden (Image: Adam Frost)

Mandy Jordan, associated director of charities and voluntary services, said: “We are thrilled that Adam has given up his time to develop this design for our new garden and think his ideas will make a real difference to everyone using Colchester Hospital.

“We look forward to watching the relaxing new space take shape over the coming months.”

To provide feedback on how you would like to use the garden email evaluation@rhs.org.uk and add ‘Colchester wellbeing garden’ to the subject line.

To view the plans head to: www.colchester.gov.uk