What We Did: Spending time in a garden provides beneficial visuals, scents, sounds and tastes, and the Therapeutic Gardens at Parkwood are designed to engage all of the senses. Studies have shown that therapeutic gardens can provide many benefits, including improved health and motor skills; in keeping with this tradition, Parkwood Hospital does not use pesticides.

In 1989, the Western Counties Wing was officially opened by The Queen Mother and includes gardens that range from four-season perennial beds to a formal rose garden. Also included are a nine-hole therapeutic putting green, vegetable and perennial gardens and ample swaths of turf with comfortable seating under wooden arbours and large canopy trees.

The Veterans’ Memorial Park is linked to the surrounding wetlands and diverse woodlands by a network of paths. The park includes a monument, a memorial wall and grove of Japanese cherry trees as well as a butterfly garden, colourful perennial beds and clusters of native trees. Other gardens at Parkwood, including the newly constructed Railroad Garden include the dramatic use of foliage, fragrances, blooms, water features and trees that are invaluable elements in a ‘healing garden’ environment.

Approximately 120 man-hours of landscaping are completed at Parkwood during an average week to keep each of these spaces looking peaceful and pristine.