Bridgeside Lodge Care Home

Therapeutic Green Spaces: Enhancing Wellbeing at Bridgeside Lodge

Client

Bridgeside Lodge Care Centre

Location

Sectors

Products & Services

Project overview

Bridgeside Lodge Care Centre successfully secured a funding grant from Islington Council and collaborated with Meristem Design to transform their outdoor area along the Regent’s Canal into a peaceful, nature-filled garden.

Goal

Bridgeside Lodge were looking to improve their outdoor space and offer their residents a peaceful place where they can connect with nature and members of the community.

Scope

The project includes revamped garden spaces filled with vibrant planting schemes and large raised plant-filled planters for easy access by residents in wheelchairs.

Solutions

Looking to create a greener and cleaner environment for residents, staff and visitors, we delivered 58m of green screens to freshen up the perimeter of the care home, help improve air quality and mitigate pollutants. The living green screens also boost biodiversity by attracting bees, birds, butterflies and other insects.

Adding to the tranquillity of the community garden, the screens also act as a vegetative acoustic barrier – helping to reduce noise pollution.

We installed bespoke timber planters throughout the garden to provide amenity and enhance the space to benefit those who live and work there. The greenery filled planters contribute to sustaining and creating environments that support biodiversity.

Included in the planters were the following plant species; Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ Pachysandra, Gaura lindheimeri and Geranium ‘Rozanne’.

Throughout the rest of the garden we included green features such as:

Large timber planters

Helping to promote gardening and involvement from the residents, a few of the planters are full with growing vegetables, fruits and herbs such as Rosemary, Thyme, Mint, Chives, Oregano, Tomatoes, Fennel, Strawberries.

Archways above planters

Intertwined with Jasmine, Honeysuckle and Clematis, these act as green windows to the adjacent scenic canal.

Wildflower turf

Covering 41m2, the turf is particularly useful at attracting biodiversity to the garden.

Planting scheme

Adding splashes of colour and vibrancy to the garden, we carefully chose plants that would suit the full sun, partial shade and shaded areas.

Impact

Having an accessible and peaceful outside space is an excellent way for care home residents to connect with their community.

Fatma, manager of Bridgeside Lodge Care Centre, reflects on how the new garden not only lifts the spirits of the residents but also her staff and visitors she sees passing through.

Having access to outside space allows for social activities to be planned, promoting more local community engagement. This can foster intergenerational interaction, providing a sense of reminiscence for care home residents.

What makes this new space even more special is the addition of a memorial garden. This area was included to provide a place of comfort and reassurance to residents, family members and carers when a loved one has sadly passed away. Including this space will ensure that those who have passed remain a part of the Bridgeside Lodge community and home.

Testimonials

Residents and staff are using the garden so much more now. We’ve been enjoying meeting new friends and creatures such as dragonflies, and hearing the birds singing. Local nursery kids also love coming along and interacting with the sensory smells.

Fatma Makalo

Bridgeside Lodge Care Home manager

It’s like our own little oasis. It’s colourful, looks very nice and it’s made the most of the small space.

Virginia

Resident at Bridgeside Lodge

I hope that this garden will be a place of joy, comfort, rest, solitude, fun, music and laughter for many years to come.

Amanda Scott

CEO of Forest Healthcare

It’s lovely just being out here. It’s definitely helped my wellbeing.

Martin

Resident at Bridgeside Lodge