GROGarden

Designed and conceived by erz during the pandemic, the modular timber kit that creates and defines the garden is built by Glasgow Wood Recycling from reclaimed timber, and the garden was planted by The Conservation Volunteers. This is a beautiful and tranquil space, both separate yet integrated with the hospital buildings. The garden demonstrates the benefits of getting NHS Staff and patients outdoors for rest and respite, whilst offering an imaginative solution to the need to meet biodiversity and climate change goals. The need for rest and respite outside became increasingly apparent during the Covid pandemic, but the benefits of this have been long known. The GroGarden has a ten year life span and sits on a site scheduled for future hospital expansion. The project brings this depressing, vacant half hectare of ground into active use. The works include wildflower meadows, paths, tree planting and flexible grass space for events. At the heart of the project is the GroGarden space – a cloistered timber walled garden - intended to become a new break out space for all users of the QEUH campus, to meet, sit quietly among plants and flowers, eat lunch or take part in organised activities. Local people can also use the GroGarden which is open from dawn til dusk. The timber kit used to build the garden is made from strong weathered timbers from construction sites and has a ten year guarantee – although has been used for longer in other installations in the city. Built off site as a modular kit it can be repaired, replaced and moved. It has no foundations, being ballasted by the raised beds.