Cooper Partnership was commissioned to prepare written and illustrative material to support a successful PFI bid to build and manage six mental health facilities in Bristol and North East Somerset.
The largest site comprised 4.5ha of overgrown allotments at Callington Road, Bristol. It supported a range of wildlife including birds, slow worms, badgers and deer. The local authority required the masterplan and overall strategy to have a strong ecology focus to encourage wildlife back into the site following site clearance, cut and fill and slow worm translocation. Wildlife is now returning to the site and a wildlife interpretation board helps service users identify species.
The new 127 bed hospital provides care for adults and older adults. Each of the 16 wards has its own enclosed garden with designs and materials appropriate to the special needs of service users, to contribute to their healing and therapy. Beyond the ward gardens a network of paths create a wandering loop. Therapy spaces for sports and games are provided, as well as seating areas for interaction with wildlife, and a formal water feature providing the relaxing sound of moving water. Rose and herb gardens were requested by service users, and allotment gardens, sheds, greenhouses, cold frames provide opportunities for more active recreation and therapy, which are used enthusiastically. Horticultural therapy is very popular.
