Sparkle Gardens

1. GARDEN BUILD
Existing GARDENS in Children’s Wards and Hospitals are Fairy Gardens
In Adult Hospitals future Gardens are Happy Gardens
To save confusion they are all referred to here as the GARDEN
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2. My Commitment
I passionately desire to improve the patient experience while in Hospital.
The GARDEN and the GARDEN Program introduced here will
help to improve healing, speed up recovery, improve staff morale,
lessen the stress on the family and enhance the positive memory
Fairy Sparkle
December 1996
of the Hospital experience for the patient
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3. Introduction
In times gone by, Hospitals were built on beautiful grounds and were surrounded by
exquisite gardens where patients could spend many hours in recovery.
Today’s society has seen this philosophy change beyond recognition. Those Hospitals
lucky enough to have any external garden are seen to be purely cosmetic and allocated
minimal maintenance. The therapeutic value of nature to help the healing process has
been lost.
Our evidence shows that it’s time to value it again.
GARDEN Build with its associated community volunteer program, can fill the void and
needs expressed by so many patients today. It is doubtful that we can return to the
exquisite gardens of yester-year but we can work within our existing structures to bring
together a solution that meets the needs of today’s patients, their families, staff, the
Hospital and the wider community.
The following summary gives an overview and initial understanding of the requirements
needed to build these very special GARDENS.
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4. The GARDEN Build
Seeing a special GARDEN built to improve the patient experience in Hospital and a
new Volunteer Program to support patients to and from the GARDEN seems like a very
big and bold vision.
And it is… but what a beautiful vision for the benefit of all.
National/State Health
The most time, resource and cost effective method of initially building the GARDEN is
during the construction of new and refurbished Hospitals. New GARDEN construction
within an existing Hospital is still possible at the local level.
Local Hospital
Once built, the GARDEN and the Program are solely 'owned' by the local Hospital and
incorporated into an existing Hospital program, whether it be Allied Health, Play Therapy
or the Hospital Volunteer Program or other internal department. It is not owned by any
external charity or organisation.
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5. 7 Principles of the GARDEN
These 7 Principles give the GARDEN structure and embrace the essence, energy and
healing effects of the GARDEN
The value of each Principle has been proven with 12 GARDENS, funded, established
and maintained over 15 years and ensure a garden sanctuary.
1. Enclosed with fences, hedges and trees
2. Paths based loosely on an ‘infinity’ sign
3. Flat paths for wheelchairs & drips
4. Paths define rooms with preferred entrance through an Atrium
5. Can’t see the end from the beginning
6. Some tree canopy
7. Must be maintainable & sustainable
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6. 7 Functions of the GARDEN
These 7 functions provide the framework for building the GARDEN at the local Hospital
level and includes Health Infrastructure, Contractors, the local Hospital, local community
and the general public.
1. Approvals
2. Design
3. Funding
4. Planning
5. Hard Landscaping
6. Soft Landscaping
7. Features/decorating/lighting
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7. 1. Enclosed with fences, hedges and trees
• Enclosing the garden creates a ‘sanctuary’ feel
• It provides a screening from the outside world
• Helps to reduce outside street noise, especially
noise from cars
• Provides the framework for the rest of the
garden
• People passing by should not be able to see
into the garden
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8. 2. Paths based loosely on an infinity sign
• The infinity sign is based loosely on a figure
of 8 and should encourage exploration of
the garden
• As space permits other smaller graded
paths can connect to the infinity path
• Allows patients to walk and walk and not
reach the end encouraging exercise
• If space permits lay the infinity path
east/west
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9. 3. Flat paths for wheelchairs & drips
• Flat main path reduces slip/trip hazards when
patients may be unstable on their feet
• Helps patients gain confidence walking
• Allows patients confined to wheelchairs or
using ‘drips’ to access the GARDEN
• Allows patients to be pushed around the
GARDEN easily
• Allows for raised garden beds to provide
interest, seating, and visual impact from
a wheelchair
• Children and those in wheelchairs can see
into the garden beds
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10. 4. Paths define Rooms
• A well constructed infinity path allows a
minimum of 8 ‘rooms’
• The rooms are defined by the path
• These rooms are not enclosed
• Gentle plant screening allows the feeling of
privacy yet still visible
• Staff meetings and family meetings with staff
are often held in the GARDEN
• The inclusion of an entrance Atrium proves
maximum use of the GARDEN in all weather
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11. 5. Can’t see the End from Beginning
• Clever planting allows even the smallest
GARDEN to appear large
• The GARDEN allows exploration,
investigation and little surprises at every turn
• The imagination is heightened and curiosity
increases, inspiring young and old alike
• The GARDEN changes with the seasons
• The GARDEN structure remains the same
however, planting, ornamentals and
decorating often changes
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12. 6. Some Tree Canopy
• Trees provide a light canopy embracing
everyone walking underneath (not a forest).
This is a key element
• Gardens with a tree canopy are degrees
cooler in summer and degrees warmer in
winter
• Canopy helps patients feel they are not in a
Hospital
• Careful care of trees during their first few
years is imperative to create the lasting
desired effect
• A caring and understanding arborist must be
engaged who understands the long term
vision for the garden
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13. 7. Must be Maintainable and Sustainable
• Maintenance has been the biggest
challenge
• A written maintenance plan and budget
is essential
• A qualified horticulturalist must be engaged
to ensure healthy, flourishing plants
• Volunteers and ‘green thumbs’ can be
encouraged to provide week to week care
• A volunteer program can be introduced to
support patients to and from their beds
maximising the use of the GARDEN
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14. Tangible Elements of the GARDEN
•Handmade mementos
•Hanging Baskets
•Hedge – private areas
•Herbs
•Lanterns
• Lattice
• Lighting, including Fairy Lights
• Lillies
•Maze
•Natural Music
• Natives
• Notice boards at entry - with Sponsor
acknowledgements, the story, kids
letters and drawings
• Patterns in paths
•Pergola
•Ponds/Pool
•Rocking Chair
•Rocks
•Rooms with nooks and crannies
•Seating
•Security Camera
•Shade
• Soil
•Sounds
•Stars for ‘Starry Tree’
•Statues
•Lucky Stones
•Sun Dial
•Security Phone
•Thresholds
•Trees
•Fallen Timber Logs
•Quotes and Sayings
•Water
•Water barrel with pump (runs electrically
and can be hand pumped)
•Watering cans
•Wheelbarrows with annuals
•Wheelchair and drip stand accessible
•Wind Mobile
•Wishing Well
•Wind Chime
•No advertising in garden (at entrance)
•No memorial stones
•Wall murals should not replace trees and
plantings
There are many ideas, here are a
few ideas that have worked...
•Archways
•Bamboo
•Bells
•Benches
•Birds not caged, Bird Feeder
•Blossom, Bulbs (annuals)
•Bridge
•Butterflies
•Characters – Animations
•Grotto
•Circular – no square angles
•Colour
•Creepers
•Crystals
•Flower Fairy Mailbox
•Flowers
•Fountain
•Garden Furniture
•Garden House / Gazebo
•Garlands (clothes)
•Gate
•Grassy area
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15. GARDEN Essence
The GARDEN provides an exploration awakening the senses.
Whatever you were feeling before ebbs away as the GARDEN embraces you with its
canopy. The Hospital from where you have come is almost hidden away
Nature is helping you to heal, privately, quietly asking nothing in return. The GARDEN
allows families to find a quality of life taken for granted by healthy families,
an escape to …
…feel the sunshine, warmth and the breeze on your skin
…a place to watch the rain fall from a protected gazebo
…smell the scent on the ground after a shower of rain
…see the effect on the garden after a storm
…see the flowers blooming
…know the seasons still happen
…and yes, a place to laugh freely with your children
This is not understood by most people until it’s taken away!
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16. A snapshot of the existing
12 GARDENS
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17. Existing Hospitals GARDENS
There is a GARDEN at
1. Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick - Ground Level
2. Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick - Balcony Level
3. Bundaberg Base Hospital
4. Orange Base Hospital
5. Royal North Shore Hospital
6. John Hunter Children’s Hospital
7. Mt Druitt Hospital Children’s Ward
8. Orange Hospital – New
9. Sydney Children’s Revamp, Randwick – Renewed Ground Level
10.Royal North Shore – Level 7 New
11.Mt Druitt Hospital Palliative Care Ward
12. Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick – New Balcony
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18. New GARDENS
New GARDENS are under development at:
• Wagga Base Hospital
• Bega Base Hospital
Both the new and existing GARDENS have been a labour of love.
They have provided an essential understanding of the needs of patients,
families and staff in the most difficult of situations - being in a Hospital.
From this understanding the GARDEN Program will now
inspire a GARDEN in all Hospitals.
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19. Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick
Opened 1999
From this…
To this…
Thanks to David Cochrane, Radio 2UE and the community
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20. Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick
First Balcony, opened 2001
To this…
From this…
Thanks to Civic Trees and the community
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21. Bundaberg Base Hospital, Qld
Opened 2002
From this…
To this…
Thanks to Shawn & Chris Hall and the community
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22. Orange Base Hospital
Opened 2002 From this…
To this…
Thanks to Fiona Rossiter and the community
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23. Royal North Shore, Children’s Ward
5th floor Balcony, Opened 2006
From this…
To this…
Thanks to Ben Hargreaves, Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Variety The Childrens Charity
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24. John Hunter Children’s Hospital
Newcastle, Opened 2007
From this…
To this…
Thanks to Variety The Childrens Charity and the Gastronimic Lunch
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25. Mt Druitt Hospital
Opened 2007 From this…
To this…
Thanks to Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Variety The Childrens Charity
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26. Orange Hospital – New
Opened 2011
To this…
From this…
Thanks to Kerry Campbell and the community
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27. Sydney Children’s Revamp, Randwick
Reopened Ground Level, October 2014
From this…
To this…
Thanks to Secret Gardens, Sydney and suppliers
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28. Royal North Shore – Level 7 New
From this…
Opening December 2014
Thanks to Health Infrastructure NSW, Brookfield Multiplex, Better Homes & Gardens and
Humpty Dumpty Foundation
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29. Mt Druitt Hospital Palliative Care Ward
From this…
Thanks to Pinegrove Memorial Park and suppliers
Opening December 2014
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30. Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick
New Balcony
From this…
Waiting for the magic…
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31. In its simplest form
the very nature of the GARDEN
draws patients out of their beds
and families out of the Ward
Fairy Sparkle
December 1996
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