When you’re rushing through the busy corridors of Upton hospital in Slough, you’d never know that just beyond the doors of the Memory Clinic, there’s a secret garden. You’ll find a vegetable patch, a flower garden, a peaceful, sunny corner, and a bench with a view.
Slough Older People’s Mental Health Team, with funding from Berkshire Healthcare Charity created this tranquil space to help people with dementia, their carers and families enjoy connecting with each other and connecting with nature.
Colleagues at Slough Older People's Mental Health Team and their committed volunteers, each with their own experience of caring for someone with dementia, grew this garden that means so much to local people. They hold weekly gardening clubs from March to October, where patients and carers can plant, grow and connect with each other.
Over 60 local people benefit regularly from the space, which was designed to reduce social isolation, while also encouraging fine motor skills and light physical activity. One garden volunteer who is a full-time carer for their loved one with dementia said, “The garden is like a safe haven for me, a place to escape from my caring responsibilities.”
Another patient at the memory clinic said "I honestly do not think I would be here if it wasn’t for coming to the garden… you have no idea how much it has meant to me.”
Staff at Upton hospital also enjoy being part of the garden, with one commenting “I am not a gardener, but I have become so invested in watering and caring for the garden. It’s such a lovely space”
What grew here this year?
As the annual summer garden party returned for 2026, we’re looking back at what’s grown in the garden this year. As well as cucumbers, onions and an impressive lettuce patch, the garden helped locals grow...
Connections between carers
Those living and caring for someone with dementia have a unique experience that only other carers will fully understand. By working together at the weekly gardening clubs, carers have shared more than just the garden sheers.
Memories together
Families and carers of patients at the Memory Clinic attended the summer garden party and enjoyed time spent together. The Team served tea and scones, and the Berkshire Healthcare Charity team were there with a raffle and glitter bar fundraising to support the garden.
Celebration
The Slough Living Well Coproduction Team, made up of people who have cared for a loved one with dementia, won the Volunteer and Charitable Contribution Award at the Berkshire Healthcare All Star Awards this year. It was noted that their insight, empathy and understanding help ensure services reflect the needs of the people they support and show the power of partnership and co-production.
Friendships
One of the reasons behind creating the community garden was to reduce social isolation in people with dementia and their carers. This has proved very impactful with one patient at the memory clinic saying, “I love coming to the garden to meet new people and grow things.”
Community
The Berkshire Nomads are a local golfing club who last year chose Berkshire Healthcare Charity to be their Charity of the year. As part of their generous donation, they supported the Slough Memory Clinic with a variety of dementia friendly resources. Find out more.
Resilience
To experience dementia, whether yourself or by caring for someone you love, is isolating, challenging, confusing and sad. The Slough Older People’s Mental Health Team, Volunteers and everyone involved in the garden have created community that can support each other through their most difficult times and share the happy times together too.
Find out more
If you’d like to support more projects like this one, consider making a donation to Berkshire Healthcare Charity. We fund ideas from NHS staff to help good care go further in Berkshire.