Police gardens flourishes at awards

30 September 2015

St Andrew’s, The Police Treatment Centre in Harrogate, has been awarded the Crowther Memorial Cup at the prestigious Harrogate in Bloom Awards, for the ‘Care Homes and Rehabilitation’ Category.

Harrogate-in-Bloom-2015-Chris-PlattThe Police Treatment Centres take pride in their grounds at both centres, Harrogate in North Yorkshire and Auchterarder in Scotland, and patient-feedback regularly commends the well-kept and beautiful gardens. The cup was presented at an awards ceremony in Harrogate last weekend by Harrogate Flower Show Director, Nick Smith.

Harrogate in Bloom commented particularly on the new Catherine Gurney Sensory Garden at St Andrews. The Sensory Garden was completed in the Spring, and was formally opened by Baroness Harris of Richmond earlier this year. Ronnie Macmillan, Head Gardener at Castlebrae, designed the Sensory garden at St Andrews with highly scented flowers, touch pots and camomile seat.

More so now than ever, particularly with the increase in violent crime, the life of a police officer is at best stressful and in many cases very dangerous. Although many patients visiting the Treatment Centre come for physiotherapy, there are a number of patients who need support with stress, anxiety and other such conditions. The number of these cases is increasing with at least 20% of patients requiring some support.

The garden will provide great value in helping officers to relax during their stay at St Andrews. It will act as a quiet area for personal contemplation & will be of great benefit to these individuals’ recovery.

 

Wendy Bartlett, Fundraising Administration Assistant at St Andrews, who collected the award, commented:
We are delighted to have been awarded the Crowther Memorial Cup.  Chris Platt and his team of CJP Landscapes work hard with us to keep the gardens at their best, so it is great for this to be recognised.”

 

With the pond area, rhododendron and azalea planting, and new initiatives like the outdoor gym and the sensory garden guarantee even better use of our outdoor environment with the aim of making the gardens a year round pleasing facility for patients, and staff, to enjoy.

Harrogate town is well known for its floral tributes, and Harrogate in Bloom was formed in 1990 by Chris Beard, who was Harrogate Borough Council’s Director of Parks. His brief was to promote Harrogate through Britain in Bloom and the Tidy Britain Campaign, as it was then. In 1996 the In Bloom team developed into an independent group of volunteers working closely with the council’s Parks service and this teamwork continues ensuring that all the In Bloom criteria are covered.

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