A FUNDING campaign to establish a new volunteer gardening project at Airedale Hospital has been launched by Those Plant People.

Professional horticulturalists Andrew and Pippa Chapman, of Steeton, are working in partnership with Friends of Airedale to set up a scheme - which needs to raise a minimum of £3,000 - to revamp the many garden areas at the hospital.

Pippa, whose idea began during a short stay at Airedale, said: “I was looking out on a bare gravel-filled courtyard and tried distracting myself with all the possibilities of creating beautiful healing gardens.

"Scientific research shows that even just looking at beautiful green spaces can improve recovery and wellbeing, so it just seemed such a tragedy that because of the decreased NHS funds available to maintain them, the outdoor areas at the hospital gardens are no longer developed.”

Research into healing environments indicates viewing scenes of nature reduces anger, fear and stress and increases pleasant feelings.

Exposure to nature also makes people feel better emotionally, contributes to physical wellbeing and reduces blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the production of stress hormones.

In order to raise the funds for the project, Pippa and her team will be utilising a crowd-funding facility on Google.

Pippa and Andrew have been involved in many community gardening projects in the area and are excited the project will enable them to manage a volunteer gardening group, Let's Grow Airedale, to design and create new planting schemes at the hospital.

Subject to raising the funds, they are hoping to start the project in May and then put in place a long-term solution for sustaining and helping the gardens to flourish.

Pippa said: “We want to transform the courtyards overlooked by the corridors of the hospital and create flower-filled meadows, mini orchards, year-round colour, fun outdoor sculptures and herb garden beds around the grounds.

"We need to raise a minimum of £3,000 to set up the volunteer group but we want to raise as much as possible as we have big plans to ensure the success of the project and its long-term sustainability.

"It’s an opportunity to anyone who enjoys gardening to channel their enthusiasm into a project that benefits the whole community, as everyone spends time at the hospital at some time in their lives, usually during difficult times when a cheerful and attractive environment is even more important in helping to maintain a healthy spirit.”

To donate to the scheme, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/lets-grow-airedale or enclose a donation in an envelope marked 'Let’s Grow Airedale project' and hand it in at the Friends of Airedale cafe at the hospital.

To volunteer with gardening, ring Pippa on 07704 178585 or email thatplantgirl@hotmail.co.uk