| Gardens are wonderful places to calm the spirit | | | | Choosing plants that attract select wildlife, such as |
| and to relieve tension and throughout history | | | | birds or butterflies, can add value and interest to |
| gardens have been used to aid in the healing | | | | the garden. Thoughtful plant selection will keep the |
| process - from the Japanese Zen Garden to the | | | | flora intriguing in all four seasons. The use of |
| Monastic Cloister garden. Restorative gardens | | | | some evergreens plants will aid in sustained winter |
| have existed since the middle Ages, seeing | | | | interest. |
| 'healthcare' centres located in medieval | | | | Provide a comfortable social environment with |
| monasteries. Exposure to the gardens was an | | | | plenty of places for families and staff to sit and |
| essential element of the recovery, the prescribed | | | | share the space. Ideally the garden will provide a |
| treatment being herbal remedies from the garden | | | | variety of spaces to accommodate different |
| and prayer. | | | | activities and levels of privacy to allow group |
| With increasing interest in complementary and | | | | activities as well as spaces that allow solitary |
| alternative therapies, emphasising the healing of | | | | contemplation. Where ever possible ensure the |
| the whole person (mind, body, and spirit), rather | | | | garden offers both sunny and shady areas for |
| than simply alleviating symptoms, interest in | | | | people with varying tolerances to light. Frail |
| healing gardens has been revived. It is thought | | | | patients may be particularly sensitive to cold, heat |
| that simply viewing natural scenes or elements | | | | and wind and a sheltered outdoor area will extend |
| can foster stress recovery by evoking positive | | | | the use of the garden. |
| feelings, reducing negative emotions, effectively | | | | Most importantly, healing gardens are meant to |
| holding attention and interest, and blocking or | | | | provide pleasant surroundings to produce |
| reducing stressful thoughts. Activities that cause | | | | restorative effects for its users. In addition to |
| involuntary attention, or capture ones imagination | | | | plants, secondary elements such as water |
| spontaneously, for example watching birds' splash | | | | features, outdoor musical instruments and bird |
| in a birdbath, quietly playing an outdoor musical | | | | feeders can help animate the garden with life and |
| instrument or even watching leaves falls from a | | | | bring sound to the patients, family members and |
| tree captures ones attention and takes ones mind | | | | staff both inside and outdoors. Outdoor Musical |
| off any worries or anxieties, thus allowing for | | | | Instruments in a healing garden can provide an |
| mental restoration. | | | | outlet for creative and emotional expression, are |
| A stressful setting such as a hospice is ideal for a | | | | perfect for music therapy session that |
| restorative garden. A Hospice is for those people | | | | encourages patients to use music to deal with |
| who are said to need palliative care, or end of life | | | | emotional issues, especially when they are unable |
| care. A Hospice allows people to achieve their | | | | to express them through speech. Where words |
| best quality of life, and also supports families and | | | | fail, music may be a medium through which to |
| carers. Hospice care is based upon the simple idea | | | | explore one's inner world and experiences. |
| that a person has unique, physical, emotional and | | | | Finally, a wonderful example of how effective a |
| spiritual needs and the belief that every patient | | | | musical healing garden can be was seen in Jo |
| should be treated as a whole person. A successful | | | | Thompson's Courtyard Garden 'Demelza' at the |
| hospice garden creates a safe and welcoming | | | | 2009 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This healing |
| environment, full of vegetation for the patients, | | | | garden was designed for the children's hospice |
| family and staff to enjoy, a place to clear ones | | | | charity Demelza, a hospice for life threatened |
| mind and allow a restorative experience to take | | | | children and their families, who come to stay for |
| place, thus reducing anxiety and tension. | | | | palliative and respite care. The 'Demelza' garden |
| Designing a healing garden requires many of same | | | | perfectly demonstrated how a garden space is |
| considerations as designing any other garden. | | | | able to provide for the different needs and |
| However, to create a truly restorative healing | | | | moods that families require, a garden brimming |
| environment there are some essential factors to | | | | with plants and colour for families to interact with |
| consider and design pitfalls to avoid. | | | | their children and spend time together in a |
| Functionality is imperative because the garden | | | | peaceful place. Sight, smell, even taste are the |
| needs to accommodate the limitations of the | | | | normal senses associated with gardens, but it was |
| users of the space. It is also important that the | | | | hearing that was accentuated in this garden. |
| garden is easily maintainable both for physical | | | | Besides the beautiful sounds of nature, gentle, |
| safety and therapeutic benefits. Paths should be | | | | musical sounds infiltrated the garden, reflecting the |
| wide enough to accommodate the turning of a | | | | importance of music in bringing happiness into the |
| wheelchair with surfaces that are firm, smooth, | | | | lives of terminally ill children. A water harp played |
| and provide traction to allow for easy movement | | | | quietly in one corner; a metal structure set in a |
| of wheelchairs, and other essential mobile medical | | | | low pool strung with stainless steel wires, which |
| equipment. Musical instruments or water features | | | | created soothing sounds as water played down |
| must be accessible for all to be fully interactive. | | | | them. A Japanese sui-kin-kutsu, an underground |
| Choose plants that engage all the senses. Use a | | | | water chamber, introduced an invisible, |
| variety of textures, scents, colours, as well as | | | | mysterious, echoing sound whilst aluminium chimes |
| plants that make pleasant sounds as wind rustles | | | | from Freenotes gave children the opportunity to |
| their leaves. Providing seasonal interest allows | | | | make their own music, combining two things all |
| people to connect with the cycle of nature. | | | | children seem to love - music and the outdoors. |