Families are set to enjoy two stunning new outdoor features at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base near Norwich. Work is complete on both an eye-catching playground and tranquil Rest and Reflect Garden, at The Nook, in Framingham Earl.
The former is set to be enjoyed by children and families, while the adjacent garden, providing a sensory experience and containing a mix of colours, leaf shapes, textures and scents, is now open but will become established in the Spring.
EACH is planning a ceremony to officially unveil both features later in the year. The playground lies beneath the hospice’s garden terrace, connected by a gravel pathway, and work was completed at the end of November.
“It’s an amazing, exciting, fun and accessible space that has something for every child to enjoy, no matter what their abilities,” said Clare Lindsay, an Occupational Therapist at The Nook.
“It provides children with opportunities to socialise and exercise through physical and sensory play.
“It enables siblings to play, providing a resource for families to spend time together, building community and friendship and helping fight isolation, loneliness and exclusion. It’s a playground to be proud of.”
The Rest and Reflect Garden, funded by the charity Greenfingers and its supporters, sits adjacent to the playground and features a curved pathway, leading to a relaxing seating space. Work was completed in early December.
The Clarkson Foundation donated 33 mature trees, serving as a living boundary and providing privacy, while maintaining a connection between the different parts of the garden. The project was designed by Ann-Marie Powell Gardens.
Louise Gower, Service Manager at The Nook, said: “Our hospice is a happy place where children can live life to their full potential.
“It’s also a place where families deal with unimaginably difficult circumstances, especially if their child is receiving end of life care.
“During these difficult times, The Rest and Reflect Garden will provide a calming space where children, families and staff can come and reflect away from the busy care floor. It’s a source of tranquillity for all who experience it.
“We’re so grateful to Greenfingers and its partners for giving us this special garden.”
The work was completed thanks to contractors Proludic Ltd and Stewart Landscape Construction Ltd, with financial support from Reepham Rotary, The Lennox Hannay Charitable Trust, The National Garden Scheme, Clarins and Evergreen Garden Care.
Pictures: Karen Self/EACH
