Ninewells Community Garden, Dundee

This months blog is written by another SGIF member, Dr Rebecca Wade. Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science at Abertay University. Rebecca is celebrating the work at Ninewells hospital in Dundee to create a fantastic commnity garden, for use by patients and the public alike:

Adjacent to Ninewells Hospital and Maggie’s Centre in Dundee you can find a beautiful, productive and peaceful Community Garden. It lies within the arboretum of Ninewells Hospital and is connected to local communities via woodland paths. The garden is run by volunteers and can be used by public, patients, staff, community groups, and garden volunteers for picnics, walks and play as well as gardening and a range of other activities all year round.

  

Images: Ninewells Hospital Community Garden, Dundee. The Hospital garden can be accessed by patients and staff at the hospital, but also by community groups, including those involved in Dundee’s green prescription initiative. (Image credits: R.Wade 2019).

 

The garden plays an important role as part of a wider agenda in Dundee (and across Scotland) to promote physical activity and healthy living through community gardening. The aim is for horticulture to support wellbeing, therapy and rehabilitation. 

At the heart of the garden is the Leaf Room. Designed by Jonathan Reeve of Voigt Partnership, the award-winning structure includes a spacious indoor room, large glass doors that open fully onto a decking area and a wood burning stove to keep volunteers warm in the winter. The building was officially opened by Shona Robison on 11th November 2016 and was awarded The Scottish Civic Trust ‘My Place’ award in 2018. The building has been designed to be environmentally conscious, constructed primarily in Natural Scottish Timber, is off grid, has a wood burning stove and includes rainwater harvesting from the roof to help water the garden. In addition to all that it provides a beautifully designed and comfortable space, providing shelter for visitors and volunteers. The garden can be accessed by patients and staff at the hospital, all of whom can use it to benefit their wellbeing and improve their health, but also by community groups, including those involved in Dundee’s green prescription initiative.

 

Refs:

Ninewells Community Garden. http://www.ninewellsgarden.org.uk/index.html

Voigt Architects http://www.voigtarchitects.ltd/project-gallery/leisure/ninewells-garden-room-dundee/