Official opening for new hospital garden

Journalist Carol Bundock will formally open a new garden for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, generously funded by the Friends of the Norwich Hospitals and created by Notcutts Landscapes, on Tuesday, 16th September.

The Friends Garden was designed by Chris Deakin MSGD, of Notcutts Landscapes, and is a haven of peace and tranquillity on the hospital grounds for patients, staff and visitors. The garden includes a pond and the fish from the old N&N’s pond were transferred to the new hospital pond.

The garden is located outside Knapton Ward ward and the entrance to the Colney Centre on the in-patient side of the hospital. The £44,000 garden has been generously funded by the Friends of the Norwich Hospitals, Notcutts Landscapes also generously supplied the garden lighting and Serco are maintaining the garden at no charge.

The garden is dedicated to the memory of the late Pauline Stone, a former secretary of the Friends of Norwich Hospitals.

Chairman of the Friends of Norwich Hospitals David Wicks said: “We are obviously very pleased to be associated with this garden not least because of our dear, departed friend Pauline Stone who did so much good work over the years. It’s nice to know she is being permanently remembered.”

Hospital chairman David Prior said: “We’re delighted this attractive new feature of the hospital has been so generously supported. The garden has already become well used and much appreciated by patients and staff.

“We are very grateful to the Friends of Norwich Hospitals, who have long been stalwart supporters of local health services, and we also thank Notcutts Landscapes for their generous contribution to the garden.“

Notcutts Landscapes general manager Jason Lock said “It was a great honour for us to be involved in this exciting project. Chris captured the essence of the brief extremely well with his design.

“With the construction taking place through the worst part of last winter and completed this spring I am delighted at the outcome. Now officially open I am sure that over the years it will be put to very good use.”