Carer adds green space to hospital

7:53am Tuesday 22nd January 2008

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GREEN therapy is on offer at a Gwent mental health unit, thanks to a carer's £10,000 fundraising drive.

Carol Wheeler organised a community effort, bringing in financial and practical help, to turn an uninspiring courtyard at Talygarn unit, on the County Hospital site at Griffithstown, into a garden with a design based on ideas from patients and those who care for them.

The result is Wheeler's Garden, which transformed a large area fronting Talygarn's main entrance.

Mrs Wheeler hopes a similar project can be developed for the neighbouring Ty Siriol unit, which caters for elderly mentally ill patients.

"It's my way of saying thank you for all that the people at Talygarn have done for my husband," said Mrs Wheeler, of Cwmbran, whose husband Malcolm is a day patient.

"To help me cope with my responsibilities as a mental health carer, I do voluntary work on community projects. I've visited this place for many years and thought something could be done to make this area better for patients.

"Ideas came from patients and staff because it was important that what was created was what they wanted.

"Neil Powell, from Cwmbran Landscaping, designed the garden and he did so much I nominated him for a community award."

Mrs Wheeler chased up the cash needed for the project by approaching the National Lottery-backed Awards For All Wales programme, which contributed £5,000.

County borough and community councillors, and Pontypool Round Table, also responded, while practical help came from Cwmbran's Learn It Centre, Torfaen's Green Wellies learning disabled and countryside teams, and companies such as B&Q and Wilkinson's.

"There has been tremendous backing. Lynne Neagle (Torfaen AM) was very supportive and so were Kevin Woods and senior nurses at Talygarn," said Mrs Wheeler.