Rooftop haven revisited!
Queen opens recycled Chelsea showpiece in Scottish hospital
Agold medal-winning rooftop garden from Chelsea has been officially opened by the Queen in Aberdeen.
The Royal Bank of Canada Blue Water Roof Garden, from the 2013 event, showcases how wildlife can be encouraged and sustained in an urban environment. Making use of recycled materials, the garden itself has now been recycled on the hospital rooftop, which is part of NHS Grampian.
Led by hospital chaplain the Reverend James Falconer, local groups and volunteers raised more than £660,000 to make the project happen. While plants and materials were stored at a local garden centre, designer Professor Nigel Dunnett of Sheffield University completely reworked the scheme to enable patients to be wheeled outdoors into smaller private spaces with visitors. He also reworked planting to create year-round interest. Retaining a central bubble fountain, the garden outline was simplified to look dramatic from above and when lit at night.
“I’ve now seen how important the garden is to patients, carers and staff and how it’s used throughout the day, everyday,” said Nigel. “The Queen remarked on the soothing sound of water bubbling and how important it was for people to feel relaxed,” he added. “She also saw that many of the plants were those visitors would be familiar with, helping make them feel at home.”