Creative Learning Agency helped to facilitate a relationship between the Royal United Hospital, Bath and local artist, Julie Starks.  This project benefited young people who were staying in the hospital both short and long term and also parents and staff and will continue to do so.

This project benefited young people who were staying in the hospital both short and long term and also parents and staff and will continue to do so.  The therapeutic benefits of gardens has long been recognised and recent scientific research by the Wellcome Trust has proven the connection between attractive and well maintained gardens and courtyards in hospitals and the accelerated recovery rate and general well being of patients who have access or views to these outside spaces.

The Arts Strategy Group has used part of an Arts Council grant to fund a residency with local environmental artist Julie Starks to carry out consultation workshops and evaluate the outcomes towards the restoration and development of a neglected inner courtyard. This will be used by the RUH School Room and the paediatric isolation patients on the Children’s Ward, providing an educational and restorative garden.

In order to find out what the children and staff would really like to see in their garden, Julie spent one day a week on the ward during April and May. As part of the launch of her consultation process with young patients, their parents and play specialists, the youngsters were given mini trays, soil, plants and other materials and asked to create their idea of a perfect garden.

Arts Co-ordinators normally use the Creative Learning Agency website to search for an artist. Hetty Dupays, Arts Co-ordinator at the hospital searched through the website to look for an artist who would be able to work on a project based on the children’s ward.

Julie Starks was contacted and appointed to the task.  The results of the consultation were displayed publicly in the main corridors in the summer of 2008 and also on the children’s ward.

“What really came up is that everyone wants space to get away from it all.  Everyone mentioned arbours, water and sheltered areas to go to.  All wanted colour too.  The model gardens which were made were beautiful.”  Julie Starks

The Landscape architect Michael branch has drawn a schematic plan for approval. The APM is continuing to apply for funding; including natural England’s ‘Access to Nature’.
 
The initial plans made by the patients with the artist will be taken into account in the design of the space. Many of the staff, patients and visitors involved in this process suggested the inclusion of willow sculpture. The commissioned, larger than life sculpture of a sitting deer has a metal frame woven with brown willow. The artwork will be installed within the garden early next year and in the meantime can be viewed in the central sculpture courtyard in the hospital.
 
The Arts Strategy group aims to start the first phase of the garden in May 2009.

The ongoing project will involve further workshops with Julie (as lead artist) to make artworks for the garden.

The end result will be a multi-sensory courtyard which the children staying in the hospital can all enjoy.

Visit  www.creativelearningagency.org.uk
Find out more about Julie Stark's participatory work here or visit her website
For further information on this project go to www.ruh.nhs.uk