A wishing well donated by the People’s Project is now in place in the grounds of Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
The community group said it was a way of “acknowledging the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the region”.
The specially-commissioned wood sculpture and bench are a memorial to all that has been lost and endured by the region’s residents – and around the world.
Plans are under way to incorporate the area where the wishing well and bench are situated into the health board’s Health and Wellbeing/ Active Travel teams directed walks to enhance physical and mental wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors.
Mark Jardine, founder of The People’s Project, said: “It is widely acknowledged that access to green spaces and being at one with nature is therapeutic and can aid the healing process.
It is hoped that the largely unknown area at the rear of the hospital can boost the mental and physical health of staff and patients alike and, with the symbolic wishing well as a destination act as a focus for many people whose wishes may well come true.”
And health and social care staff - whose roles have meant they have continued to work on site at DGRI during the pandemic – have recently begun to make use the quiet spot in the spring weather and with daylight hours increasing.
It is hoped that as restrictions ease in the months ahead, patients, staff and visitors can visit the wishing well and bench and benefit from spending time there, or simply in passing by on a walk within the grounds.
It has been revealed that the People’s Project approached NHS Dumfries and Galloway just weeks after the pandemic hit Scotland to explore the idea of an artwork donation to acknowledge its impact on the region.
They then worked in partnership with the board’s Arts Strategy Delivery Group to come up with the idea of the specially-commissioned wishing well and bench sculptures as a fitting and timeless mark of hope and remembrance.
“The wishing well and accompanying squirrel bench are perfect in their semi-woodland setting and I’m sure they’ll offer visitors a quiet, natural reflective space. Our thanks go to The People’s Project for thinking of the local NHS after such a challenging year.”
