Cultivating Recovery: A New Courtyard Garden at Chapel Allerton Hospital

Transforming spaces that change lives is something we’re incredibly proud to be part of. The courtyard garden at the Complex Rehabilitation Centre, Chapel Allerton Hospital at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is a perfect example. Once an underutilised, inaccessible area, it has now been reimagined into a therapeutic, welcoming environment that supports recovery, wellbeing and connection. Acting as Project Manager, Walker Sime worked closely with partners, clinicians, and the wider team to bring this vision to life, creating a space that will have a lasting impact on patients, staff and visitors.

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The Challenge

For patients at the Complex Rehabilitation Centre, Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds, outdoor access was limited to an ageing courtyard. The space, unchanged since 1994, had chipped paving, overgrown plants, broken ramps and large areas inaccessible to wheelchairs. It was far from therapeutic or inspiring.

The Vision

The goal was to create a safe, accessible and engaging outdoor environment to support rehabilitation and mental wellbeing. The garden would allow patients to benefit from horticultural therapy while also providing a calming space for relaxation, socialising and reconnecting with nature.

Collaboration and Design

This transformation was a true team effort. Walker Sime provided Project Management, co-ordinating activities and keeping the many stakeholders engaged and informed throughout the process. Working alongside Urban Wilderness, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds Hospitals Charity and contractor R N Wooler, the team ensured smooth delivery at every stage. Clinical teams – including horticultural therapists, occupational therapists, ward sisters, and consultants – were fully involved in the design process, helping to shape a garden that met patients’ mobility, cognitive and social needs.

Features and Accessibility

The redesigned garden now features a large circular seating area at its heart, creating a natural gathering point for patients, visitors and staff. Surrounding this are four raised beds and low-level planted areas filled with more than 30 varieties of sensory plants – from edible herbs like sage and mint, to fragrant lavender and lemon thyme, to tactile foliage such as silver sage and rosemary. Small trees and shrubs, have been introduced to add texture and bring a calming woodland feel to the space. To ensure accessibility for all, bound gravel paths, gentle ramps, and handrails make movement safe and easy, allowing every patient to experience the garden fully.

Therapeutic Impact

Horticultural therapy sessions play a vital role in rehabilitation. Through carefully designed gardening activities, patients can work on improving hand function, balance, cognition, and communication skills in a way that feels purposeful and rewarding. Simple tasks such as sowing seeds, watering, or tending to raised beds are graded to meet different abilities, helping patients build strength, coordination, and confidence step by step. Beyond the physical benefits, group sessions encourage teamwork and conversation, fostering camaraderie, reducing feelings of isolation, and creating a sense of achievement. The garden has become a space where recovery is nurtured both physically and emotionally, enhancing mood, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing.

For nationwide multi-disciplinary construction consultancy, including Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Infrastructure Services, Regeneration Delivery, Construction Design Management, Bills of Quantities and more, call us on 0161 872 9955, email hello@wordpress-657849-6256491.cloudwaysapps.com or message us here.