Improving Accessibility at the Royal Edinburgh Hospitals Community Gardens
The Royal Edinburgh Hospital’s community garden has recently undergone significant upgrades to improve accessibility for all patients.
Nestled within the grounds of the hospital, the community garden has long been a cherished space, offering patients, NHS staff, and the local community a peaceful retreat. With around 4,800 visitors annually, the garden, managed by Cyrenians, has provided a vital place for therapeutic horticultural activities. However, despite its popularity and proven benefits, not everyone could fully enjoy the garden due to accessibility issues.
The lack of proper access prevented many from experiencing the full benefits of the hospital’s vibrant non-clinical community spaces. Recognising the need to address these issues, a project was undertaken to enhance the gardens infrastructure.
Working from designs by ERZ Landscape Architects, the NHS Lothian estates team, in partnership with Jamieson Joiners and Builders, implemented a series of upgrades. A high-quality path was built leading to the gardens entrance, ensuring that everyone, regardless of mobility, could easily access the space. Within the garden, a new path was constructed to connect with a newly built polytunnel, while the existing woodland walk was upgraded to make it more usable and safe.
Patients who rely on wheelchairs or have difficulty walking can now move freely within the garden. One patient said:
This path is fantastic and make it so much easier to access the community gardens. I love to visit, and this means I can come more often. Thank you so much!”
Today’s path opening event marked the culmination of these efforts. Patients, NHS Lothian staff, and community members gathered to celebrate the transformation and experience the improved garden firsthand. The event also served as an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and collaboration that make these changes possible.
The garden is now a space that serves everyone thanks to these necessary and thoughtful improvements.
Find out more about the Green Health projects and activities that are taking place at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital
