MONDAY, 7 NOVEMBER, 2016

EMBARGOED UNTIL PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER AT 10.15AM IN THE NINEWELLS COMMUNITY GARDEN. SHONA ROBISON, CABINET SECRETARY FOR HEALTH WELLBEING & SPORT OFFICIALLY OPENS THE LEAF ROOM WITH NHS TAYSIDE CHAIRMAN, PROFESSOR JOHN CONNELL, GARDEN VOLUNTEERS AND USERS.

New Leaf Room opens in Ninewells Community Garden

The new Leaf Room in the Ninewells Community Garden in the grounds of Ninewells Hospital was officially opened today by Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing & Sport.

Ms Robison was welcomed to the garden by NHS Tayside Chairman, Professor John Connell, Chief Executive Lesley McLay and garden facilitator, Sarah Griffiths who introduced the minister to staff, patients and children who use the garden and volunteers who look after the garden.

Professor John Connell said, “The Leaf Room is a fantastic addition to the Ninewells Community Garden. It provides a sheltered, accessible and communal space that can be used by people of all ages and abilities in a wide range of garden activities that are creative, sociable, educational and enjoyable.

“It also offers a place where patients or people with mobility issues can sit and enjoy views of the garden and surrounding woodland. I would like to thank all those involved in creating this wonderful building and the volunteers who do a great job of maintaining the garden year-round.”

Officially opening the room, Ms Robison said, “This is a wonderful space at the heart of Ninewells that truly makes the most of the hospital’s natural surroundings. I know that patients and visitors will get a lot of benefit from the Leaf Room for years to come and I want to thank all the charities and organisations who have helped to make this fantastic project a reality.”

Kevin Lafferty, Access, Health and Recreational Advisor with Forestry Commission Scotland, said, “The ‘Greening the NHS Estate’ programme at Ninewells is encouraging staff, patients, visitors and local people to make greater use of the hospital’s existing woodland for improving health and wellbeing.  

“This is part of a wider collaboration between the health and environment sectors to promote green exercise and support clinicians to take their healing and recovery programmes outdoors.   

“The Leaf Room showcases how Scottish timber, supplied by BSW Timber Ltd,  can be used to create a landmark structure for people to enjoy all year round for physical activity, recuperation, viewing nature or for simply spending time relaxing or convalescing outdoors.”

The innovative design of the building, created by architects the Voigt Partnership, is inspired from a natural leaf form helping to connect the building to the garden it serves. The building is extremely environmentally conscious being constructed primarily in natural Scottish timber, and is uniquely 100% ‘off grid’, not requiring any service connections.

There are no electricity requirements due to the large amount of natural light coming into the building and a solar-powered security light. Rainwater will be harvested from the roof and collected in a large container at the rear of the building to help water the garden.

The Leaf Room has been made possible by generous funding from a number of charitable groups and Organisations including NHS Tayside’s Community Innovation Fund, Forestry Commission Scotland, Alexander Moncur, Welsh Family Trust, Leng, Harold Merton Adams and the Green Exercise Partnership comprising Scottish Natural Heritage, NHS Health Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland and Forestry Commission Scotland.

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138