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Low-cost planters drive cultural change at Kingston Hospital

Launched in 2021 to uplift staff morale and enhance wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic, the project has become a beacon of hope and community spirit

Kingston Planters at a glance:

  • Type of garden: raised beds
  • Location: Kingston Hospital, Kingston upon Thames
  • Budget: approximately £1,300, plus £400 for maintenance per year 
  • Dimension: 0.5 square metres for each planter
  • Implementation phase: four days for planning, one day for delivery and installation
  • Key features: ten wooden planters featuring a diverse array of themes and plantings

How the wellbeing garden began

Team Lead for the Stroke department fills the living wall irrigation system, made of upcycled crutches and clinical drips, into a planter designed by the Physiotherapy department
Emerging from the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown, the Kingston Planters project at Kingston Hospital was launched in 2021 to uplift staff morale and enhance wellbeing. Ten vibrant planters, each one measuring 1 metre by 0.5 metres and adopted by a different department team, were strategically placed throughout the hospital.

This time the pandemic is really affecting staff morale, and I’d like to try a planting project. ​I think the thought of new shoots and flowers later in the year will at least give us something to look forward to.

Helen Draper, consultant in the Emergency Department
In response to the NHS’s request for assistance, the RHS delivered mentoring sessions on Zoom with staff members and equipped them with the necessary knowledge to begin the design process for each planter.

“We asked each team to think what their priority would have been: for example, did they want colourful plants, drought-tolerant ones or plants that attract wildlife? They enthusiastically selected themes around sustainability, biodiversity and wildlife, among others, and we provided soil and plants accordingly,” said former RHS Community Outreach Advisor, Christopher Young.

The RHS also managed the supply and delivery of the planters, while the staff were in charge of decoration and planting.

Budget and process

Consultant anaesthetist tends to the Physic Garden-themed planter, designed by the Theatre and Anaesthetics department​
The project prioritised low-cost, high-impact interventions. The planters were made free of charge by The Skill Mill, a social enterprise providing employment to young people, using surplus materials from a local building company. The RHS supplied 50 bags of compost and plants, selected based on the chosen themes – all within a budget of £1,300. From the following year onwards, the RHS gives each team a £20 gardening voucher every winter to help maintain the planters.

The Paediatric team’s planter
The Emergency department’s planter
The planters are dotted across the hospital, near where each involved department is based. The staff choose a different theme every year and buy new plants accordingly. For instance, the Sexual Health clinic team filled their flowerbed with plants that can be used as herbal remedies. Among them were Salvia, which is believed to allieviate menopausal symptoms and can have anti-inflammatory properties; mint, which helps with breastfeeding pain and digestive problems; and chrysanthemum, which has been used to treat sexual-related infections.

Gardening helps reduce my tinnitus. When things get stressful, going out and seeing the plants helps me relax.

NHS staff member at Kingston Hospital
The Speech Therapy department originally focused on a five-senses planter, including rosemary for taste and lemon grass for smell, quaking grass for sound, cacti and Pennisetum for their noticeable textures. Other themes adopted are around pollinator-friendly, edible, low-maintenance and climbing plants.
Maintenance tips

  • Water regularly to ensure the plants remain healthy
  • Remove weeds to maintain the planters’ appearance and health
  • Replant occasionally to refresh and update the plant selection
  • Add decorative elements to enhance the visual appeal of the planters

Lessons: challenges encountered

The project has strengthened relationships both within and between departments
“The big challenge in hospitals is communication – how to reach a large number of people working in different departments, on different shifts and too busy working on the ground to check their emails during the day,” said Christopher. “Fortunately, when the project started, a chaplain was in charge of wellbeing at Kingston Hospital, and he became the point of contact for the RHS. Today, his role has been taken by the Education department, which helps us spread information when we need to deliver a message.”

Because the project kicked off during the Covid-19 pandemic, face-to-face contact has also been a primary issue. “We had to replace in-person meetings with Zoom calls and we had to hire a private courier to deliver plants and compost to the hospital,” Christopher explained.

Lessons: what went well?

“One thing we got right was starting the project in spring, which was well-timed with the plants’ growth,” said Christopher. The planters soon became an attraction for visitors, with a dedicated map created to invite those who need to spend long hours waiting to spot all the raised beds around the hospital. “We were surprised by the dedication and enthusiasm the staff put into the project. Some departments also involve their patients in making Christmas decorations for the planters.”

The 30 minutes I spent painting our container last week was one of the nicest breaks I have ever had outside. Just watching the world go by, patients and staff stopping to chat...

NHS staff member at Kingston Hospital
Every year, RHS representatives visit Kingston Hospital for a summer celebration and prize-giving ceremony, now a cherished tradition that provides an incentive and fosters healthy competition.

Impact of the wellbeing garden so far

A summer celebration and prize-giving ceremony helps motivate the teams
Through small, well-considered interventions, the Kingston Planters project has sparked broader cultural change, with green space now recognised as essential – not optional – in healthcare environments. This has also lead to the creation of additional green spaces within the hospital for both staff and visitors. 

NHS staff continue to care for and enhance their planters, fostering better relationships among colleagues and different teams and providing opportunities to take breaks. The initiative also encourages staff to engage with natural environment and creates an inviting, interactive space that benefits hospital visitors and patients.

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Read more about the RHS Wellbeing Garden Blueprint

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The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.