The grounds of Torbay Hospital will soon have a new look as an artist plans to site a therapeutic stone sculpture trail in the open spaces.
Devon-based Sculptor, Zoe Singleton, is now designing the sculptures or waymarkers and asking for inspiration from staff who work for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital, and from patients and visitors who enjoy the leafy grounds.
Zoe said: “We know how both green spaces, and the arts, can support wellbeing for us all. These stones will invite people to spend time in the outside spaces at the hospital. to walk a short trail and take notice of the natural world; or to pause for moments of time out, relaxation and reflection.”
Each sculpture will be carved with a word that has special meaning to people and carved in a number of languages to reflect the diversity of staff, patients and visitors.
Zoe is collaborating with the team at HeArTs (Health and the Arts in Torbay and South Devon) to develop the Waymarker Project with five sculptures to form a trail connecting spaces along a route for people to pause, think and reflect as they walk or rest amidst the grass and trees.
HeArTs supports a range of projects across health and community care sites for therapeutic purposes and which explore the emotional and physical effects of nature on health and wellbeing.
The long-term Waymarker Project is funded by Torbay Culture and commissioned by the Create to Recover programme which has attracted funding from Arts Council England.
The project recognises the importance of wellbeing, which is especially important during COVID-19.
David Alderson, a consultant with the Trust and clinical lead for HeArTs, said: “The green spaces at Torbay Hospital, our hospital’s lungs, are more precious than ever at this time. We hope that the Waymarkers will help to draw staff towards the benefits, to physical and mental health, of spending time in these areas.”
To take part:
Zoe wants to know what the outside spaces mean for staff, patients and visitors at the hospital and why they are important.
She is asking you to send her the word that most reflects how the outside spaces at the hospital make you feel. Staff, visitors and patients are asked to consider completing the following sentence: “I come here for…”.
HeArTs would also encourage people to send a video of them speaking their chosen word, or an image of themselves at a favourite outdoor spot in the hospital grounds. All images, words and videos will be included in a short film to celebrate the project.
By taking part staff consent to their image, video and word being used in the development and promotion of the project by the artist and the partners (Torbay Culture and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust) including in social media.
Please send your word to Zoe by emailing [email protected] as soon as possible, and before Friday 28th August 2020.
The stones will be installed in October 2020 and will form the foundation for a sculpture trail that will evolve over the coming years.
