Blooming marvellous! New courtyard garden at Scarborough Hospital delights staff

The courtyard, accessed via the staff room in the Accident and Emergency department, was drab and dull until staff nurse Shan Unsworth decided it was time to make some changes.

The garden is dedicated to the memory of Doctor Juliet Alletson who sadly passed away in 2014.

Prior to the renovation, there were just two picnic tables and a small bench.

Shan, who has been living in a hotel for the last few weeks to avoid the risk of transmitting the virus to her family, said: “ I was sitting in the staff room and I looked at the garden and thought ‘I wish that looked better’, so I approached a few businesses to ask if they would help us out.”

She mentioned what she was thinking of doing to sisters Lauren Delaney and Rachel Delaney-Burke and the two were happy to help.

Rachel designed the Facebook page and, on April 16, Lauren put out a Facebook appeal asking if anyone could donate bedding plants and gardening tools to create a positive place for staff to take a break in the sunshine, giving them somewhere to get away for 10 minutes.

Local children decorated stones to place around the garden and people and stores from around the area donated plants, time and other items..

The garden, which is overlooked by the maternity and intensive care wards, is making a positive impact on the lives of those working at and visiting the hospital.

Shan, who lives in Stillington, near York, said the garden had been created in just a couple of weeks. It will benefit the roughly 20 people per shift who work in the A & E department, offering a welcome escape for those spending 12 hours a day in a surgical mask.

Staff have said that they are “made up” with it and there are now talks to renovate other courtyard gardens at the hospital.

Other people involved were Andy Curtis & Family who made the planters, B&Q, Irton Garden Centre, Pimlico, Esplanade Garage, Derek Bratton, Morrisons, Monster Cleaning Company, BAT Garden Centre (Easingwold), Brown’s Nursery (York), York Stone Reclamation & Garden, W.O. Jones Printers (Anglesey)

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