The newly refurbished garden, located within the Roxburgh Children’s Day Centre, was officially reopened on Tuesday 28 April, following a major transformation made possible by a £40,000 donation from the hospital’s League of Friends.
Designed with children and families firmly at its heart, the garden provides a safe, accessible outdoor haven where young patients can play, explore or take a quiet break from busy clinic areas. For many children, hospital visits can feel overwhelming, and access to outdoor space can make a meaningful difference to their overall experience.
The Roxburgh Garden had previously become unusable, with uneven surfaces, damaged flooring and limited space for supervision. Thanks to the League of Friends’ generous support, the space has now been completely reimagined. Improvements include new soft play tarmac, a levelled and resurfaced grassed area, secure privacy fencing and seating for parents and carers.
The Roxburgh Children’s Day Centre provides outpatient care for more than 4,000 children every year, offering a wide range of general and specialist clinics, investigations and support services. Many children attend the centre multiple times as part of their ongoing care, making the environment they experience an important part of their hospital journey.
Dawn Collins, Interim Chief Nurse at The QEH, said: “This garden is about recognising that children are children first. They need space to move, to play, to explore – and sometimes just to step outside and take a breath. Having somewhere calm and welcoming like this can make a huge difference to how a child feels, and to the experience of parents and carers too.
“Spaces like this don’t happen without people who really understand what matters to patients and families.”
The League of Friends has long played a vital role in enhancing patient experience across The QEH, supporting projects that bring comfort, dignity and reassurance to patients of all ages. The Roxburgh Garden is a powerful example of how their work helps create environments that support both physical and emotional wellbeing.
League of Friends Chair, Penny Hipkin, said: “It is a great honour to be part of the hospital and be involved in such important and amazing projects.”
The Roxburgh Centre is named in honour of Dr Ronnie Roxburgh, a pioneering paediatric consultant who devoted his career to improving children’s health services across West Norfolk. His belief in child‑centred, compassionate care continues to shape the ethos of the centre today.
Dr Roxburgh’s son, Alistair Roxburgh, attended the reopening event and unveiled a commemorative plaque alongside the League of Friends, marking the return of the garden for future generations of young patients. Alistair said: “I was here for 1998, for the opening [of the Roxburgh centre] in August of that year, and I it’s really good to see this is moving on in leaps and bounds. Lots of energy behind it. And the refurbishment of this garden is just absolutely the key part of it.”
Mandy Calvert, Play Specialist at the Roxburgh Centre, added: “For many children, coming to hospital can be frightening or overwhelming. Being able to step outside, play or take a moment away from busy waiting areas can make a huge difference. This garden will help reduce anxiety and support children’s wellbeing during their visits.”
Thanks to the vision and generosity of the League of Friends, the Roxburgh Garden once again offers a place of calm, play and reassurance – helping children and families feel supported throughout their time at The QEH.
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