UNUSED land at Arrowe Park Hospital has been transformed into a relaxing outdoor garden for patients and staff.

The work was carried out by housebuilder Stewart Milne Homes, who also donated equipment, supplies, plants and flowers as part of the two-week long project.

Workers from Stewart Milne volunteered to create the landscaped space, which features scented plants to aid relaxation and a seated area for everyone to enjoy.

Now complete, staff, patients and visitors will all have access to the space located at the front of Arrowe Park Hospital, opposite the Outpatients Department.

David Jago, acting chief executive at Arrowe Park Hospital, said: "Our staff work very hard around the clock and its important they have a space to unwind before, during and after their shifts.

“We’ve wanted to install a garden for both staff and patients to enjoy for quite some time now, but our available resources are limited. Thanks to the partnership between Stewart Milne and our Staff Health and Wellbeing Group, we now have the perfect outdoor space.

“Hospitals can be such a stressful environment so we hope the garden will be a place where our staff can relax and patients can spend time with their families.

“On behalf of the whole hospital I would like to extend a big thank you to Stewart Milne Homes for their support and hard work over the last couple of weeks.”

The garden was opened to the public by Stewart Milne Homes and Arrowe Park Hospital staff just in time for the 70th anniversary of the NHS.

Lynne Vogel, regional sales manager at Stewart Milne Homes, said: "We want to support local community groups and projects wherever we can.

"After supplying Arrowe Park with their Christmas trees last year, and hearing that they wanted to create a new garden space, we were keen to help.

“The hospital wanted the garden to promote tranquillity and create a peaceful space so we used our expertise to find relaxing colours and calming scents such as lavender, jasmine and honeysuckle.

"We're all very happy with how the garden has turned out and hope it's enjoyed by everyone that uses it."