New garden for Moyle patients

The garden, opened by Whiteabbey and Moyle ArtsCare Committee, provides a soothing environment where patients and relatives can relax and enjoy the peace and tranquillity.

The event was attended by representatives from the Northern Trust, ArtsCare Northern Ireland and staff and visitors to the hospital.

Donald McWhirter, co-chairman of Whiteabbey and Moyle ArtsCare Committee said: “The garden now provides a much more pleasant aspect for patients in the unit, with the mosaics on the walls bringing in more colour and light.

“We hope the new garden will provide an area where patients, relatives and staff can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings”.

Landscaper Thomas Devine started work on the new garden in the summer of 2009. Mr Devlin’s ideas allowed him to add flowers, climbing plants, shrubs and a general tidying of the old garden.

Through time, the climbing plants will grow up through and around the mosaic pieces, enhancing the artwork and providing a more interesting view for patients in the onlooking ward.

Local artist Fiona Rainey extended the existing mosaic wall and introduced a curved coloured band that flows onto the walls, reinvigorating the old into the new work. To introduce light into the garden, a sun spiral made of mirrors was added to the mosaic wall.