Wellbeing Garden opens to create a space for connection, learning and community
A new accessible Wellbeing Garden has officially opened within the grounds of the University of Bedfordshire’s Putteridge Bury campus, creating a welcoming outdoor space designed to support wellbeing, learning and community engagement.
Developed in collaboration with the Tibbs Dementia Foundation, the garden has been carefully designed to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for people with a range of needs, including those living with dementia.
The garden will provide a dedicated space for visitors to spend time outdoors in a safe, accessible and welcoming environment. Time spent in nature and engaging in meaningful activities can support wellbeing and encourage social interaction.
The garden features a variety of raised and lower-level planting beds, allowing people of different abilities and mobility levels to take part in gardening activities. Accessibility has been a key focus throughout the development, with ramps providing easy access to the flowerbeds and greenhouses to ensure the space can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
The Wellbeing Garden has been shaped through the expertise and guidance of Tibbs Dementia Foundation, whose input has helped ensure the space is welcoming, meaningful and suitable for people living with dementia. The University will continue to develop and improve the garden, working alongside Tibbs to incorporate ongoing advice and feedback.
Professor David Hewson, Professor of Health and Ageing at the University of Bedfordshire, led this project. He said: “Leading this project has been incredibly rewarding, and it’s fantastic to see the Wellbeing Garden come to life. We wanted to create a space that is genuinely accessible, welcoming and meaningful for everyone, while also providing valuable opportunities for our students to learn in a real-world environment.
“We’re proud of what we’ve created in partnership with Tibbs Dementia Foundation and look forward to seeing people enjoy, explore, and make use of the garden.”
The new facility will also provide valuable opportunities for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy students to gain practical experience by working with visitors, supporting activities and developing their understanding of how outdoor spaces can contribute to health, wellbeing and rehabilitation.
Professor Gurch Randhawa, Director of the Institute for Health and Wellbeing Research at the University of Bedfordshire, said: “This Wellbeing Garden is a fantastic example of how we can create real-world learning opportunities for our students while making a meaningful contribution to the communities we serve. It provides our future health professionals with the chance to develop their skills in an accessible, supportive environment, working alongside visitors and understanding the role that spaces like this can play in improving wellbeing, independence and quality of life.
“We are delighted to have worked alongside Tibbs Dementia Foundation to bring this vision to life. Their expertise has been instrumental in shaping a garden that is inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of people living with dementia.”
Sarah Russell from Tibbs Dementia Foundation added: “We were delighted to work with the University to create such a welcoming and accessible space and a great learning environment too. It was a joy to be able to share the knowledge and experiences of those living with dementia and that were able to help shape this wonderful resource for the local community.”