Royal Preston Hospital’s garden space given a major upgrade as nine firms pull together

SAFE Centre garden Construction Hub Pic: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals

A £10,000 in-kind donation to Royal Preston Hospital has helped transform the private garden located next to their SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination) Centre.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity along with nine businesses has aided this transformation.

Staff from companies including Conlon Construction, City Build, Equans UK, Ashlea Landscapes, Morgan Sindall Construction, Tilbury Douglas, C&W Berry, The Casey Groups, F Parkinson and Russell WBHO, came together to remove trellising and replace it with fencing.

They then worked together to fill planters containing flowers and plants, clear brambles, paint a bench and wooden chairs and add decorative stones and gravel.

Neil Conlon, of Conlon Construction, who coordinated the project, said: “The collaborative spirit of everyone involved has been amazing.

“This is such a good cause and will have a positive impact on those wishing to enjoy a quiet moment in the new garden.”

This space can be used by both visitors of the hospital and staff.

Instead of charging individual companies for the project, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity gifted the £10,780 to the SAFE Centre.

Rebecca Arestidou, the charity’s trust, fundraising impact and project officer said: “We are extremely grateful to all members of the North West Construction Hub and their suppliers, who supported them, for taking on the job.

“They have created what is now a beautiful private garden where those attending and working at the centre can go to find tranquillity, solace and healing through nature.

“Men, women and children from throughout Lancashire are referred to the centre for its help and support.

“Usually, referrals are made by the police so if ever a place needed an outdoor space like this new garden, which is both calming and uplifting, it’s the SAFE Centre.

“We know it will be much appreciated by all who use it.”

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