Gardens and outdoor play areas do so much to make hospital that little bit easier for patients, visitors and staff.  Read on to hear how we’ve recently transformed three special areas.

JANE ASHLEY CANCER GARDEN – a place of peace and sanctuary

Tamsin Rawlings, Head of Major Gifts at Oxford Hospitals Charity writes:

"Moments after the re-opening of the Jane Ashley Garden at the Churchill, staff and patients were outside enjoying the fully refurbished space. Colleagues grinned through their lunch breaks, enjoying the warm weather, while a patient and their loved one snapped a ‘selfie’ under the summer sun. I didn’t expect the impact of this space of solace to be so immediate, yet, from the minute the garden reopened, the reactions came in. “We were so excited that we ran straight out!” A member of staff told us. Her colleague adding: “It is just lovely to go into the garden at lunchtime – and it means SO much to our patients."

Patients like Victoria, who donated to our fundraising appeal. She told us: “I spent very peaceful and restorative hours in the garden while being treated for cancer. It is a wonderful resource and will, I hope, continue to be used and loved by patients and staff”.

The Jane Ashley Garden of course holds a special place in the heart of the Ashley Family. Neil Ashley explains: “The garden is named in memory of my late wife following her own battle with cancer. It’s a green sanctuary at the very centre of the Churchill and after so many years of constant use, our family was honoured to help fund this redesign”.

Our thanks also go to Jamie at Edit Landscape Design Studio, local landscaping company Hadingham Kirk and the many others who gave so generously to the project.”

  “A LITTLE OASIS” FOR THE WOMEN’S CENTRE

A new garden has also been created outside the Women’s Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The space has been transformed, with new planting and seating - turning a once disused piece of scrap land into a pleasant and calming environment for patients and staff.

The improvements have been co-funded by The Silver Star Maternity Fund, which is part of Oxford Hospitals Charity and SSNAP which provides extra support for sick newborns and their families.

Maggie Findlay from Silver Star said: “This is now a little oasis, created with care and hope to provide a moment of peace to enjoy or to heal, surrounded by nature.”

Emily Byrne from SSNAP added: “It offers a much-needed retreat during some of the most intense and emotional moments of their journey for both neonatal and maternity families. We’re so proud to have worked alongside Silver Star to bring this vision to life.”

The garden will include a dedication to Professor Chris Redman, who passed away in 2024.

He was a global pioneer in maternal care, setting up the first dedicated maternal medicine service, known as the Silver Star Unit, in 1983, which was replicated around the world.

Thank you to all the donors who helped fund this garden and Nicholsons Garden Design who worked on the project with some staff volunteering time to help with planting.

There has also been some new seating and a pergola installed in the Gynaecology Garden at the Women's Centre for staff and patients to use, which was also funded by Silver Star.

“MAGICAL MAKEOVER” for Horton outdoor play area 

Staff, families and young patients have praised the transformation of the Horton General Children’s Ward’s outdoor play area, describing the newly renovated garden as ‘a magical makeover’, ‘a happy space for children to thrive’, and ‘a huge improvement’.

Now bright and spacious, with beautiful planting, activities and shaded seating areas, it is also fully accessible, enabling children who use wheelchairs or who can’t leave their hospital beds to enjoy the space.

“Time outdoors is so important for children’s mental and physical health and being able to access green space during a hospital stay will have a positive impact on the young patients. ”

Ward Sister, Pippa Parnell, told us: “It’s beautiful, I absolutely love it!  There is so much to look at, with the lovely planting, a brilliant new climbing frame and a basketball area.

“I also love the bright and bouncy flooring, which is very level so all patients can enjoy the space. We are thrilled with it.”

The project was carried out by landscaping company, Hadingham Kirk, and funded thanks to a generous donation from local company Glazpart Ltd.

Ken Hanley, Glazpart Managing Director, said: “We’re really pleased to support our local Horton Children’s Ward and thrilled to see what a difference this has made. It truly is a transformation, the children are going to really enjoy this special space.”