Dandelion Tribute Takes Pride of Place in Garden of Reflection
Thanks to generous donations, two NHS Charities, BCHC Charity and Caring Minds, have been able to fund the creation of a beautiful Garden of Reflection on the Moseley Hall Hospital site for patients and staff to enjoy.
Recognising the strength of partnerships, the charities for Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust worked together to design, fund and install the Garden of Reflection and its one of a kind statue that has taken centre stage.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that physical health was not the only thing impacted by the disease, with bereavements, lockdowns, and anxiety causing loneliness, sadness, and feelings of isolation. A YouGov survey* of 1,078 NHS staff revealed that 83% believe it will take many years for staff and volunteers to recover from the pandemic.
BCHC Charity worked closely with staff at Trust bases across Birmingham to provide items to entertain patients, as well as boost patient and staff wellbeing and morale. Once lockdowns were eased and visitors were able to return to hospitals, discussions started around a way to enhance the green spaces across the Trust, including the Moseley Hospital site, and combine this with a place for families to honour their loved ones as well as those who dedicated themselves to caring for our community throughout the life of the NHS.
Work began in 2022, with the creation of a circular path and installation of new benches pointing towards the centre of the garden, where the beautiful dandelion statue has pride of place. Trees and hedges were planted around the outer edge of the garden which will grow into a natural boundary, providing privacy and peace to those in the garden.
The Garden of Reflection provides a quiet, private area for reflection and contemplation. Patients, staff, and visitors are able to use the space to decompress following difficult consultations, process diagnoses, and remember those loved ones and colleagues who have passed away. The feature walls in the centre of the garden are designed as a ‘Wall of Tributes’ where individuals can choose to fund a personalised plaque in memory or in honour of a loved one who has passed.
The dandelion has been the BCHC symbol for end of life services since 2020 and as such was chosen as the feature for the centre of the garden. The dandelion clock itself represents the fragility of life, whilst the nature of the dandelion as a weed is a testament to the resilience of those touched by the lives of those who have passed on. The floating seeds represent a hope for the future; that new things can grow even in dark times.
Sarah Binks, BCHC Charity Manager, shares more of the background to the concept of the design. “The subtle stars on the smaller dandelion present BCHC Charity’s wish to spread the sparkle wherever we go, and the swirl from Caring Minds charity logo at the base represents the strength and support for anyone who accesses their services. The dandelion is such a powerful message representing so many people who have worked or accessed services on this site - every dandelion is a different poem, whispered into the breeze, the same way that every person who enjoys the garden has their own story to tell.”
Caring Minds Charity Manager Louise John says, “The Caring Minds charity are delighted to be able to support such valuable spaces for our colleagues and service users to enjoy. The Garden of Reflection offers a safe and peaceful environment for all to take a moment and gather their thoughts, or simply just take time to relax and take the load off. The beautiful statue is the finishing touch needed to really set this space off and we are very excited to share it with everyone.”
The statue was designed and made by public artist Luke Perry and acts as a focal point to reflect and remember, as well as being a monument to the dedication, compassion, and strength of our NHS throughout such a challenging period. It has been made with repurposed materials from retired Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats, the life-saving boat materials a fitting tribute to those who save and change lives daily within the NHS.
Luke says, “It is such an honour to be able to create something for our beloved NHS, without which myself, and many of my loved ones, would not be here. We all owe this wonderful institution a great debt, this has allowed me to repay some of my own.”
“Making the piece at this time of year was perfect as there have been so many dandelions that I have been able to spend time observing in the wild, I have found a new appreciation for this beautiful wildflower.”
BCHC Charity has also been able to enhance other outdoor areas across the Trust thanks to funding from NHS Charities Together, including garden furniture and shelters at several BCHC bases, the installation of a green gym at Moseley Hall alongside Caring Minds, and a parklet at West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre in Selly Oak.
