Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth Hospital to get 'Gro Garden'

Patients and staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), as well as the local community, will be able to enjoy a new greenspace blending art and sustainability.

Works on the "Gro Garden", which will be located close to Car Park 2 on the hospital grounds, have already kicked off as part of a £320,000 transformation.

A Gro Garden is an all-weather structure with sheltered seating areas and growing planters constructed from recycled timber.

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Health board bosses said biodiversity would also be a key element of the improvement works, and the finished site will include birch trees, biodiverse shrub planting and wildflower meadows.

There will be accessible footpaths across the area, encouraging staff, patients and visitors to make use of this new green space.

There will also be opportunities for staff to get involved with growing projects on the site.

Gemma Kitson, greenspace and urban realm officer for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “We're really excited to get this project off the ground, thanks to our funders from the Scottish Government, NHSGGC Endowments and Estates.

"As spring approaches, and the days start getting longer, we're looking forward to getting outside and seeing the seasons change.

"This project will provide a great space on the QEUH campus for staff, patients and visitors to get outside and experience the health and wellbeing benefits associated with arts and nature.”

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Arts will be weaved throughout the project, with work ongoing with Glasgow-based street art organisation artpistol Projects to design a mural for the gable end of the adjacent AMB building. 

The group previously delivered a number of murals on the site which depict greenspace and wildlife.

As part of the development, NHSGGC will also work with local social enterprises that provide training schemes and apprenticeships.

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Ali Smith from artpistol Projects, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of this project to bring new life to what was a vacant lot on the site, with climate stories at the heart of our work.

"We are looking forward to creating a garden and art which reflects the local community, is filled with biodiversity and allows patients, staff and the wider community to come together and enjoy some green space.”

The garden has been designed to be suitable for re-use elsewhere on the campus, should the site be required to develop further clinical facilities.