Preston architecture firm helps design hospital memorial gardens

Ros Collins, charity administrator; Dan Hill, head of hospital charities; Rebecca Arestidou, grant and trust fundraiser with the memorial garden — The memorial garden at Royal Preston Hospital. Pic: LTHTR

A Preston-based design and architecture company have been involved in creating two hospital memorial garden projects.

FWP Limited, which is headquartered in Preston, has helped design Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital’s new gardens which aim to give visitors, staff and patients an area for rest and reflection.

The ‘Gift of Life’ butterfly sculpture was unveiled earlier this month at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, while Royal Preston’s memorial garden opened last summer.

Chorley and South Ribble memorial garden opening. Pic: LTHTR

Both have been created by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity to highlight the importance of organ donation and honour those who have donated across Lancashire, as well as to remember Covid victims.

FWP’s CDM and safety services team gave its time for free to help coordinate and assist the project manager at Chorley and led the project at Preston’s Hospital.

David Simmons, FWP senior associate who led the Preston project, said: “The memorial garden, with its striking memorial tree, is also a very special place.

“We feel very privileged that we were able to play our part in its creation and that it is now having such a positive impact on both staff and visitors to Royal Preston, offering them the space for rest and reflection.

“It is also great to see the garden at Chorley and South Ribble is now completed.”

Both gardens have been designed to ensure an area to remember all lives which have been lost and to remember those who have given the gift of life.

Ellie Orton, chief executive at NHS Charities Together, said: “NHS staff are under more pressure than ever before – and having spaces where they can rest and reflect in between busy shifts can make a huge difference to their overall health and well-being.”

Gift of life butterfly sculpture at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. Pic: LTHTR

FWP’s design team was also behind the refurbishment of the Charters Restaurant at Royal Preston Hospital.

They have worked on many NHS projects including The Minerva Centre at Preston North End’s stadium and the Life and Urgent Care centres at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.

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