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Garden opens to help stroke patients recover

Stroke Association Shows a child wearing a purple t-shirt and jeans playing with flowers Stroke Association
Little Anna Duncan was a newborn child when she had a stroke two years ago

A new garden designed to aid stroke patients' recovery has been unveiled in the north west.

The tranquil space at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry has wildlife-friendly flowers and garden benches where stroke patients and their families can rest and connect away from the hospital bedside during their stay.

Clodagh Dunlop, from Magherafelt, suffered a brain stem stroke in 2015, which left her paralysed and initially diagnosed with locked-in syndrome.

The former police officer believes gardening was a "key part" of her recovery and that it has important life lessons for us all.

Stroke Association. Shows a woman in denim dungarees in front of a poster with her on it.Stroke Association.
Clodagh Dunlop, a former police officer, says gardening helped her after a stroke

'Gardening is like recharging'

Stroke Association Shows a man on the left, children in the middle and woman on the right, all wearing purple tops and playing with a flower pot. Stroke Association
(From left to right) Craig Moore, from the Stroke Association, Anna Duncan, stroke survivor and Anna's mum, Lauren Duncan

"I found that the hospital can be a very sterile environment," Ms. Dunlop told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

"When you are there, you are away from your comforts, you are away from home.

"I spent a lot of time in bed, just looking at white walls."

She said going out into the garden always made her feel reconnected with the world.

"Even now, after my stroke, I find gardening is like recharging; it's almost like plugging myself back in.

"Many people who have a stroke don't just spend a few days in hospital—it's usually an extended period of time. So it's important to have a safe space where they can be with their family."

She said gardening taught her patience and, in many ways, plants and gardens reminded her of stroke survivors.

"With the right care, time, and patience, they too can begin to thrive again," she said.

Alongside the garden opening, Altnagelvin Hospital also introduced new information displays throughout its stroke unit.

They feature powerful testimonials from stroke survivors and provide essential information about the support available through the Stroke Association.

Similar displays are already in place in other specialist stroke units across Northern Ireland.

Stroke Association Shows two men wearning purple hooded tops and holding a flower pot with a nurse in a blue top and black trousers in the middle.Stroke Association
(Left to right) Craig Moore, from the Stroke Association, Ann-Marie McIlmoyle, Stroke Service Improvement Manager at Altnagelvin and Alasdair O'Hara, Northern Ireland Director at the Stroke Association

Alasdair O'Hara, Northern Ireland director at the Stroke Association, said the garden was all about giving patients and their families "a peaceful space".

"Life after stroke can be daunting and we want to reach everyone as soon as possible with our support after their stroke," he said.

"We hope that the garden can be a peaceful space for stroke survivors and their loved ones to connect, reflect and relax outdoors while they take those first steps in their life after stroke.

"We also want more people affected by stroke to know that we're here to help and support them to live physically and mentally well in the aftermath of stroke."