A hospital courtyard has been turned into a tranquil haven for patients in Woolwich.
The garden, located on Ward 4 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, now serves as a peaceful outdoor sanctuary for patients, families, and staff thanks to months of planning and hands-on volunteer work.
The transformation project was a collaborative effort involving Greenwich Rugby Football Club (RFC) and members of the local community.
Greenwich RFC members and staff create a tranquil space for patients (Image: Yasser Abo Kareem)
Volunteers built planters, laid stone pathways, planted trees and shrubs, and installed screening panels to create a Japanese-inspired garden design.
Yasser Abo Kareem, who led the rugby club’s involvement, said the project was particularly meaningful to him.
Community volunteers landscape a new Japanese-inspired garden at the hospital (Image: Yasser Abo Kareem)
Mr Kareem said: “As many of my friends and family members have spent time in hospital, contributing to enhance someone’s stay makes you feel good as a person.”
The rugby club donated £350 toward the redevelopment of the garden.
New planting and pathways bring colour and calm to Ward 4 (Image: Yasser Abo Kareem)
Volunteers painted structures, installed bamboo screening, built raised borders, and landscaped the area throughout the project.
The finished garden now features mature planting, decorative stonework, seating areas, and shaded corners for reflection.
Hospital staff and volunteers celebrate the completion of the garden project (Image: Yasser Abo Kareem)
The effort was inspired by Ward 4 staff nurse Lisa Player-Keogh, whose enthusiasm for gardening encouraged colleagues and community members to take part.
Support came from all corners, including rugby club members, nearby residents, and friends of the hospital.
The refurbished courtyard offers patients a calming outdoor place to reflect (Image: Yasser Abo Kareem)
Ward 4 staff expressed their gratitude in a letter of thanks, noting that the garden provides patients and families with access to nature during difficult periods of treatment and recovery.
The letter also highlighted the garden’s impact on cardiology patients, who often face “complex treatments and life-changing diagnoses.”
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Staff said that having a peaceful outdoor area could help support mental health and overall wellbeing.
Numerous patients and relatives have since shared positive comments, saying the garden provides a much-needed escape from the clinical environment of the ward.
Lisa Player-Keogh said the garden has become a valuable part of the ward, benefiting both patients and staff.
The project is a testament to the power of community action and the difference it can make.
It stands as a lasting legacy for patients and families at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and a reminder of what can be achieved when people come together for a shared purpose.
The garden is now a place of solace, reflection, and hope—made possible by the generosity, hard work, and compassion of neighbours, volunteers, and supporters.
It will continue to serve as a reminder that even small acts of kindness can have a profound and lasting impact on others.
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