Story Garden as a space for Islington primary care staff to gather and connect

Iona Morrison, a GP at the Islington St John's Way Medical Centre, shares her experience of facilitating the Islington Wellbeing Community of Practice sessions at the Story Garden over the past year. It has been wonderful to be able to share the garden with local GPs for them to have a nourishing space to explore what wellbeing means in our busy times for themselves and their patients.

I would like to extend a huge heart-felt thank you to the Story Garden for hosting the Islington Wellbeing Community of Practice's monthly in-person gatherings. We, the Islington Wellbeing Community of Practice, are a group of primary care staff; we used the time in the garden to self-nourish, connect with others, and to learn, support and inspire each other to make wellbeing changes within our workplaces. It is increasingly understood that we must prioritise our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of our team so that we can safely and sustainably care for our patients. The Story Garden has a similar wellbeing ethos of ‘I, We, and the Planet’ recognising the importance of individual empowerment, connection and collaboration with others, and nurturing the local and wider ecosystem so that we can live in a healthier and happier world.

Grace, a GP at Barsnbury Medical Practice, and a regular attendee echoes this sentiment; “I love knowing the Story Garden exists and spending time in its inclusive and nourishing spaces with people who understand the ingredients of wellbeing. It feels like a beating green heart in our local area. Thank you to Nicole and Laura and all of the team at the garden for welcoming us in and taking care of us so we can take care of others.”

The Wellbeing Community met for a range of activities, such as a Death Café, Breathwork session, and more general sessions where the emphasis was on getting to know one another and learning about wellbeing initiatives from colleagues and creatives within Islington and further afield. Whatever we were doing we always created time to wander around the garden, sing together and eat delicious home-made cake! Ailsa, GP at Clerkenwell Medical Practice, says “I feel so fortunate to have been able to share peaceful and uplifting moments together with my colleagues. Thank you to everyone at the Story Garden for welcoming us so warmly and cultivating such a nurturing space for us to grow together.” 

To gather in a beautiful space is a real treat and half the battle for creating memorable and nourishing meetings; it contrasts with the everyday experience of living and working in a city where we are surrounded by sharp lines, artificial light and concrete. Tamsin, a GP at St John’s Way Medical Practice reflects;

“The green surroundings always made me instantly feel calmer. The spaces that the story garden kindly provided for our sessions were always just right - be it a cosy sit round by the log fire in the Roundhouse or a sun filled discussion in the sky room.”

When living in London and working busy, inner-city jobs it is increasingly important to have a way to relax and calm our nervous systems: and nature does just this. Abi, a GP at The Village Practice, says;

“I found the Story Garden a beautiful oasis of calm in the midst of the city. It was wonderful to have moments with the wellbeing group wandering around admiring the plants.. It is amazing to see examples of community projects and gardening, it lifts my heart and brings me hope that the story Garden exists! I'm so happy that I was introduced to it through the wellbeing group and look forward to returning!” One of the benefits of holding our sessions in this local community space was that it brought Islington primary care staff into the garden (many of whom had never visited it before) to experience its magic first-hand. GPs meet with many patients everyday who could benefit from this nature and creativity-filled space. Tamsin reflects, “As a GP it was also great to be immersed in the place that we often signpost patients to and helped me be able to describe better to patients what was on offer.”

Let us continue collaborating to champion each other's work and move towards a world where wellbeing is central to all that we do – bringing people back into connection with themselves, their local community, and the natural world.

Thank you Story Garden for being a beacon of light and hope!

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Notes from the Garden