New Hospital Gardens Bring Comfort and Nature to Palliative and Mental Health Patients in East Lothian

Patients, visitors and staff at East Lothian Community Hospital are benefitting from the therapeutic power of nature following the opening of two new hospital gardens designed to support wellbeing, recovery and connection with nature.

The newly redeveloped outdoor spaces, officially opened on 18 August 2026, have transformed the areas outside East Fortune House (the hospital’s 20-bed palliative care unit) and Oak Tree Ward (adult mental health and dementia services) into accessible, vibrant sanctuaries that provide opportunities for relaxation, reflection, social interaction and nature-based activities.

Made possible through generous funding from The Blythe Family Trust, the project has been delivered by NHS Lothian Charity’s Green Health programme working in close collaboration with clinical teams and designers Hinterland Studio.

The impact of the new gardens was felt immediately during the very first “Garden Club” session held in the Oak Tree Garden, where dementia patients who had previously been withdrawn became actively engaged and more connected to the nature around them.

The redevelopment includes two distinct garden spaces tailored to the needs of different patient groups:

The Blythe Garden (East Fortune House): Designed as a peaceful sanctuary for palliative care patients and their loved ones. It features step-free accessible pathways, vibrant seasonal planting, raised beds, and covered seating areas – offering a quiet, comforting space for people to spend time together outdoors.
The Oak Tree Garden (Oak Tree Ward): A dynamic, sensory environment tailored for adult mental health and dementia care. It encourages physical movement, social interaction, and hands-on therapeutic gardening, featuring sensory flora, woodland-style seating, and biodiverse habitats for local wildlife.

Gillian Neil, General Manager for Acute and Ongoing Care, said:

We are incredibly grateful to The Blythe Family Trust for their generous funding, and to NHS Lothian Charity and its Green Health team for their leadership in developing and delivering this project. Together, they have created beautiful, welcoming spaces that will make a real difference to the experience of our patients, families and staff.

“Access to outdoor space and nature is really important, particularly for people facing significant health challenges, and these gardens will provide a place of comfort, peace and connection. They will give patients, families and staff the opportunity to spend time outdoors, enjoy the changing seasons and take a moment away from the pressures and worries that can come with illness. We know the benefits of these gardens will be felt for many years to come.”

Jane Ferguson, Director of NHS Lothian Charity, said:

We are delighted to see these beautiful gardens brought to life. NHS Lothian Charity was proud to facilitate the funding for this project and deliver it through our Green Health programme. This has been a fantastic collaborative effort, bringing together the generosity of The Blythe Family Trust, the expertise of our Green Health team and Hinterland Studio, and the insight of hospital staff to create spaces that truly reflect the needs of patients, families and staff.

“There is a growing body of evidence showing the positive impact that nature can have on both physical and mental health, and these gardens will create new opportunities for therapeutic activity, social connection, relaxation and reflection, helping people connect with nature as part of their care and wellbeing.”

Robin Morton, Trustee, The Blythe Family Trust, said:

The Blythe Family Trust is proud to support the creation of these therapeutic gardens at East Lothian Community Hospital. We were inspired by the vision of creating accessible outdoor spaces that would bring comfort, dignity and enjoyment to patients, families and staff. Supporting the gardens forms part of our wider commitment to East Lothian Community Hospital and the many initiatives that help improve patient wellbeing and experience. We hope these gardens will provide lasting benefits for the hospital community and offer countless opportunities for people to experience the restorative power of nature.”

The garden enhancements are one of a number of projects made possible through the generosity of The Blythe Family Trust at East Lothian Community Hospital to support elderly people in East Lothian. Alongside the gardens, their funding has helped enhance patient care and wellbeing through meaningful activities, art and design enhancements and creative arts programmes, complementary therapies, welfare and bereavement support, volunteer services, and specialist equipment.

The gardens will also create opportunities for local volunteers to become involved in the life of the gardens, working alongside the Horticultural Practitioner to help nurture and develop the spaces. Their involvement will help ensure the gardens remain welcoming, vibrant places of comfort, connection and wellbeing for patients, families and staff for many years to come.