Creating a garden from ‘Wilde’

Eighties pop starlet-turned-gardener, Kim Wilde, spent the day in York Hospital recently… but not as a patient.

Following a successful bid by the trust, Norwich Union, one of the city’s biggest employers, donated 30 graduate trainees for the day to help makeover a courtyard garden near the maternity unit. The project was supervised on the day by Kim, who now presents several gardening programmes on TV.

The garden, which is next to the obstetrics and gynaecology department, now boasts a water feature, gravel beds and mosaics designed and made by clients at the Coach House workshop.

Trust chief executive, Simon Pleydell told Pulse: “We are very grateful to Norwich Union for its generosity in helping us with this courtyard project and improving the environment for both patients and staff. Whilst this project covers a relatively small area it will make a big impact and will be highly valued and remembered by the women attending this unit.”

Head of Midwifery, Margaret Jackson said: “This garden was in desperate need of a makeover and the results are amazing, it is a real sea of calm for both patients, carers and staff to enjoy and relax in.”

The final word went to Kim who told us: “The hard work has really paid off, I am delighted with the results and I think the garden looks fantastic.”