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Bodmin Community Assessment Treatment Unit (CATU) has a small garden area for patients. It provides a peaceful place for people to relax in. For others it’s also a chance to do a spot of gardening, and a way to pass the time during their stay.

Jayne Parkin is a meaningful activities coordinator at the unit. She likes to get patients involved in the garden area. One day, Jayne took a patient in a wheelchair out to the garden to do some planting. But due to the patient being in a wheelchair, they were unable to reach the planter.

But all that is about to change following the installation of new, raised planters. This means the area is now accessible to all patients, including those in wheelchairs. The planting area was designed and made by students from Bodmin College. The materials were donated by local businesses.

The college was approached by staff from CATU, and they were happy to help. Students were provided with materials, including wood and compost. They were donated by RGB Building Supplies and Bond Timber.

Yaz Andrews is ward manager at the CATU. She says: “It is absolutely fantastic. It’s wonderful that as a community we have come together to create these areas for patients to enjoy.”

Construction students at Bodmin College were challenged by their tutors to come up with a design as part of their course.

Hannah Stephens is a construction teacher at Bodmin College.

She says: “They (the CATU) needed something accessible so that patients could use it. Our sixth form team came up with a template and it’s nice to see that they are proud of their own work. They are creative kids, and they went straight for it.”

Students Axel, Emily and Toby worked on the project. They were thanked by staff at the CATU for all their hard work.

Axel says: “The planters took us about 2 months (to make). It was something really nice to do. It feels really good that we’re doing something for people that are not well enough to do something. They have got something to do while they’re here, so they’re not just sat in a room bored.”

Emily is also studying construction at Bodmin College.

She added: “I think anyone would agree, doing something for an actual cause is the best thing to do. It’s good to know this could help people’s mental health, and people just in general wanting to get out and do some planting. It’s accessible for everyone at all times. It was very rewarding.”

Peter Derry is a sales representative for RGB Building Supplies. They supplied the wood for the project.

He said: “We were happy to donate any materials we could to support. RGB are always at the heart of the community, and we try to support organisations where we can. Bodmin Hospital is very close to my heart. My father was in Garner Ward. I’ve experienced the hospital and wonderful things it does.”