A NEW community garden designed to provide a seaside residents with additional socialising capabilities will be unveiled at a health facility today.

The Kennedy Way Medical Centre, in Clacton, first opened its doors in May in place of the Epping Close Surgery and the Frinton Road Medical Centre.

The state-of-the-art complex is now home to a tranquil and spacious garden which sits in the centre of the patient and staff car park.

The green space boasts raised beds, grassed areas with benches, refreshment facilities and a ‘Men’s Shed’, with further additions planned in the coming weeks

Clacton company Signs Made Easy has also stencilled an inscription onto a ceremonial watering can, which will be used to water the flower beds.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

The garden is the result of a collaboration between the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and site owners NHS Property Services.

Community Voluntary Services Tendring members are also part of the project and have been brought on board as service providers and the garden management team.

The hope is the garden will give patients and residents a calming and peaceful space in which they can connect with other like-minded people.

Mo Cocklin, a local patient and member of the Patient Participation Group, volunteered to help set the garden up and is already enjoying the benefits.

She said: “Since volunteering at the garden, I've met many new friends and I’ve enjoyed seeing everything come together.”

The redesign of the area, which benefited from a donation from the Holland Residents Association, is part of NHSPS’s national Social Prescribing Programme.

It is reportedly just one part of a transformation which will also see an outdoor gym, wildlife area and an enhanced allotment patch installed.

Sharon Alexander, CEO of CVST, said: “The community garden is within easy access of the medical centre so patients visiting Kennedy Way will hopefully drop by.

“It is a very exciting concept bringing patients, community groups and the NHS together seamlessly and it is only at the first stage.”

Jane Taylor, senior estates development manager for the clinical commissioning group believes the project will give seasiders’ mental health a boost.

She added: “It has been a pleasure to watch the transformation of wasteland to the beginnings of a magical space.

“It will improve the health and wellbeing of many of our local community through social interaction.

“The project thus far has been a great example of collaborative and partnership working and I look forward to seeing the journey of transformation continue.”