Community Garden Transformation Flourishes at Carlisle Healthcare Site

Catherine Gosson-Low explained how she was drawn to the project: “I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors and feeling connected to nature. Gardening brings benefits not only for the environment, but also for wellbeing and building a sense of community.”

The project quickly gained support from local organisations including Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Groundwork, Incredible Edible as well as local allotment volunteers, who provided expertise and practical guidance.

The design makes use of the planters’ scale by creating wildlife habitats in the central, less accessible areas, while the outer edges are used to grow herbs, fruits, vegetables and flowers that can be enjoyed, and even harvested, by visitors.

Donations of materials from partners such as The Rebuild Site, Groundwork and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, alongside contributions from staff and patients, have helped bring the garden to life.

Community involvement has played a key role. Young people from Barnardo’s supported the creation of bug habitats and planting activities, while local Brownies groups have taken part in maintaining the space and learning about the natural environment.

“It was such a joyful and uplifting experience for the young people involved,” said Becky Seaton, Barnardo’s LINK Practitioner. “Spending time outdoors together had a really positive impact on wellbeing.”

The garden has already made a visible difference, with patients and visitors regularly commenting on the improvement. Even a small initiative, such as recycling used coffee grounds from the on-site café NJs to enrich the soil, have contributed to its success.

The project team hopes to encourage further involvement, highlighting the benefits of spending even short periods of time outdoors.

Debbie Docherty explained: “We want to show that just ten minutes of gardening can have a positive impact on wellbeing.”

The project continues to develop, supported by further training and recognition from Cumbria in Bloom, which praised both the planting and the strong sense of community behind the initiative.

This growing space demonstrates how underused areas within healthcare settings can be transformed into valuable community assets, supporting both people and the environment.

If any communities are interested in getting involved they can e-mail: nencicb-cu.myhealthncumbria@nhs.net or call the practice on 01228 588121.

The site is located at:
Locke Road
Durranhill Industrial Estate
Carlisle
CA1 3UB