A cherished sanctuary at Harrogate District Hospital has officially reopened following a major refurbishment, ensuring patients, visitors and colleagues can continue to enjoy a peaceful outdoor space for years to come.
The much-loved Friends Garden, which has been welcoming visitors since 2001, was officially reopened by Tom Gordon MP, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough, during a special celebration attended by volunteers, supporters and project partners.
For more than two decades, the garden has provided a place to pause, reflect and recharge away from the busy hospital environment. The newly refurbished space has been designed with accessibility at its heart, including a new automatic entrance door from the hospital’s main corridor, making it easier for wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties to enjoy the garden independently.
A space for wellbeing, remembrance and connection
At the heart of the garden stands the striking Tree of Life, a metal sculpture created by renowned sculptor Steve Blaylock.
Developed through a partnership between the Friends of Harrogate Hospital, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee and NHS Blood and Transplant, the sculpture honours the extraordinary generosity of organ and tissue donors whose gifts have transformed and saved lives.
Visitors will also discover a number of new features aimed at promoting wellbeing and encouraging people to connect with both nature and one another.
A colourful new Bug Hotel, created by students from Horticap, will provide a home for insects and wildlife while helping visitors learn more about the natural world through informative display boards.
The garden also features new “Happy to Chat” benches, inspired by an international initiative encouraging kindness and conversation. Anyone sitting on the bench is signalling that they would welcome a friendly chat, helping to combat loneliness and create meaningful connections between people who may otherwise never meet.
A project powered by community support
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, more than 50 guests gathered in Herriots Coffee Lounge to celebrate the reopening and recognise the many organisations and individuals whose generosity, expertise and commitment helped bring the project to life.
John Fox, Chair of the Friends of Harrogate Hospital, thanked those who had supported the refurbishment. He 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).”
Certificates of Appreciation were also presented to Steven Fry of Morgan Sindall Construction, Carolyn Rothwell, the hospital’s volunteer gardener, Ian Hutchison of Harrogate Integrated Facilities and accessibility advisers Trevor Chapman, the late Janet Chapman and Hayley Day.
It means so much to so many people
Speaking after the opening, Tom Gordon MP highlighted the important role both the Friends and the wider community play in supporting local healthcare services.
He said: “It was an absolute joy to be invited to cut the ribbon and officially open the Friends Garden after its recent renovations. We are so lucky to have such a fantastic local hospital charity, and a local community who all chip in.”
For Steven Fry, Project Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, working on the project revealed just how important the garden is to those who use it. He said: “I didn’t realise how important the garden was to so many people until we closed it to start the works. The number of staff who came up to me saying they were missing their garden and wanted their space back really showed how much it means to them.
“For me, it’s about bringing people together. It’s a tranquil space for lots of different reasons, but it also brings out the human aspect of caring, not just among hospital staff, but among the people who come into the hospital too.
“The contractors have also taken a real sense of pride from the work because they know how much it means to so many people.”
The reopening marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Friends Garden, which continues to offer a welcoming place for quiet reflection, conversation, remembrance and respite for everyone who visits Harrogate District Hospital.