Memory Lane appeal

Thank you for your support towards our Dementia Garden appeal.

We are so grateful to everybody who supported the appeal to enable us to meet the £160,000 target to provide a therapeutic, sensory garden for those with a dementia diagnosis, who are receiving care in Croydon. Works have begun and will continue to progress over the coming weeks - please watch this space for more updates!

The garden will create a calm, accessible environment that supports both physical recovery and emotional wellbeing, bringing a sense of comfort and familiarity to patients during what can often be a confusing and distressing time. It will become a space that recognises the importance of dignity, comfort and connection in dementia care. Thanks to every donation, we are now able to create an environment where patients can feel calmer, more at ease and more like themselves, even during their time in hospital. 

For many older people, a hospital stay can be disorientating and unsettling, particularly for those living with dementia. Familiar routines are disrupted and surroundings can feel unfamiliar, which can increase anxiety alongside any physical illness. Our teams can see how important it is to support not only medical treatment but also the emotional wellbeing of patients, and this appeal has been developed in response to that need. 

The Dementia Garden is designed to provide a safe and welcoming space that patients can easily access and enjoy. Clear views and direct routes into the garden will help patients feel confident using the space, while accessible pathways, gradual ramps and handrails will support those with limited mobility or who use wheelchairs. Continuous walking routes, supported by simple signage and recognisable features, will allow patients to move around safely and independently, with regular seating areas offering places to rest. 

As well as supporting patients, the garden will provide a welcoming space for families. It will offer an alternative to the clinical ward environment, where people can sit together, talk and reconnect in more familiar surroundings. For many, it will create opportunities to share memories and enjoy meaningful moments during what can be a difficult time. 

Essential groundworks, drainage, accessible pathways and fencing has already been completed. Lighting, seating, furniture, and planting will now be underway, shaping the character of the space ready for autumn and all the seasons that come thereafter. The final design has been informed by patients, carers and staff to ensure it reflects the needs of those who will use it. 

Thank you

 

       

 

 

Our garden design