The Queen in Aberdeen
Published
The Queen has spent the day in Aberdeen, opening the Robertson Family Roof Garden and visiting the Sue Ryder Dee View Court Neurological Centre.
The day started at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where The Queen officially opened the Robertson Family Roof Garden.
The Garden is a unique and exciting space in the heart of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary that provides easy access to outside space.
It allows patients, relatives, visitors and staff the opportunity to engage and interact with the growing range of plants, grasses and trees, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Her Majesty met those who were involved in the creation of the project, including Rev. James Falconer, Healthcare Chaplain who pioneered the idea.
The Queen also met the garden designer Professor Nigel Dunnett. In 2013 the original garden was a gold medal winning show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower show.
Professor Dunnett adapted the design to make it completely accessible, so that even a fully ventilated patient from intensive care could go outside.
The garden is of particular physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefit to critically ill and long term adults and children, in particular those recovering from trauma and for those facing the future after a life changing or life limiting diagnosis.
After unveiling the plaque to officially the garden, Her Majesty then travelled to the Sue Ryder Dee View Court neurological centre.
The Queen is Patron of the charity Sue Ryder, which was founded 1953 and provides compassionate hospice and neurological care across the UK.
Her Majesty received a tour of the facility, meeting a number of staff and residents, as well as seeing images from a photography exhibition.
Before departing The Queen placed a letter inside a time capsule before signing the Dee View Court visitor book.
An Appeal was launched in June 2017 to extend the facilities and provides homes for 20 more people. The very first donation came from The Patron's Fund, a charitable fund set up to acknowledge the work of the charitable organisations for which Her Majesty is Patron.
