A new garden made possible by a community group is now in place in front of the Owen Sound Regional Hospital.
NeighbourWoods North is a sub-committee of the Owen Sound Field Naturalists, and prepared a Master Plan to naturalize the hospital property area as it had remained barren for a time.
One of the group’s proposed projects was to transform a grass island directly in front of the hospital into a garden to bring some beauty to the area, and create a more soothing environment for patients, families and staff entering the building.
The NeighbourWoods North committee unveiled the new garden at the hospital on Monday.
Various types of shrubs, over 200 perennials, over 60 native perennial grasses and 300 spring bulbs are now planted in the area that used to be a simple grass island.
Vicky Thompson, Chair of the Gardening Committee for NeighbourWoods North and Coordinator for Grey County Master Gardens, says many individuals, businesses and organizations helped create the welcoming garden.
“What we wanted to do was create something beautiful that wold be a positive thing for thousands and thousands of people coming in through this entrance,” says Thompson. “We wanted to create something that might offer some comfort, or interest or ease for people as they are coming and going from the hospital.”
Grey Bruce Health Services president and CEO Gary Sims says hospitals are often associated with stress and anxiety for many people, and there are many ways to build a positive experience both indoors and outdoors.
“NeighbourWoods North and their many volunteers have done a tremendous job naturalizing and transforming our hospital property into a more healing environment, and their hard work is very much appreciated,” Sims says. “The new garden is a blooming success.”
The plants for the new garden were purchased from local nurseries. A $7,000 grant was received from TD Friends of the Environment, as well as a $1,000 donation from Master Gardeners of Grey County for this project.
Lloyd Lewis, Chair of NeighbourWoods North, also teased a future project at the hospital property he calls the “Path of Healing.”
“We hope it’s eventually going to be about a two kilometre trail that goes all the way around the hospital grounds and will be wheelchair accessible so it will be used by visitors and staff and the community alike,” says Lewis. “We have already laid the trees all around it, so eventually it will be an area not only of beauty but an area to relax.”