Double Recognition for the Oasis Wellbeing Garden at the Royal Berkshire Hospital
The Royal Berks Charity and Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust are celebrating a double success after the Oasis Wellbeing Garden received two prestigious awards — a Gold Award at the Reading in Bloom 2025 Awards and the NHS Forest Collaborative Award.
At this year’s Reading in Bloom 50th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, the Oasis Garden was awarded Gold in the Wellbeing Garden category, recognising it as an outstanding example of how thoughtfully designed green spaces can support the health and wellbeing of NHS staff.
Located within the grounds of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, the Oasis Garden provides a peaceful retreat where colleagues can pause, reflect, and reconnect with nature during their busy working days. The garden has become a cornerstone of staff wellbeing — a space that promotes calm, mindfulness, and connection.
A Garden Grown Through Collaboration
The Oasis Garden is the result of a truly collaborative effort, bringing together the Royal Berks Estates Team, contractors, and a dedicated group of community and corporate volunteers who continue to maintain and nurture the space. The project was made possible thanks to the generosity of Royal Berks Charity supporters and the support of NHS Charities Together, whose donations directly fund initiatives that have improved the wellbeing of hospital staff and patients.
Dr Janet Lippett, Chief Medical Officer at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The Oasis Garden has become a vital sanctuary for our staff, offering a moment of calm in the midst of challenging days. It’s a space that reminds us how important it is to take time for our own wellbeing so we can continue to care for others. This recognition is a wonderful acknowledgment of what the garden means to our staff.”
Jo Warrior, Charity Director at Royal Berks Charity, added:
“We’re incredibly proud to have funded the creation and upkeep of the Oasis Garden through the generosity of our supporters. It’s a tangible example of how donations directly improve the wellbeing of our hospital community. Winning these awards is a testament to what can be achieved when our charity, staff, and local partners work together.”
NHS Forest Collaborative Award – Growing Change Together
Alongside the Reading in Bloom success, the Oasis Garden has also been named the winner of the NHS Forest Collaborative Award — an accolade that celebrates innovation, sustainability, and teamwork across the NHS.
In announcing the award, the NHS Forest team said:
“There was strong competition in this category and your project really stood out as showing just what is possible when organisations work together to make a difference. We particularly liked that your project was linked to using nature for addressing inequalities and food security by donating produce to local food banks.”
This recognition highlights how the Oasis Garden goes beyond providing a restorative space — it’s also helping to tackle local inequalities through sustainability and community impact. Produce grown in the garden is regularly donated to local food banks, ensuring that its benefits extend well beyond the hospital grounds.
A Lasting Legacy of Wellbeing and Connection
These awards mark a proud moment for both the Royal Berks Charity and the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, celebrating a shared commitment to improving wellbeing, fostering sustainability, and connecting people through nature.
The Oasis Garden stands as a living example of what can be achieved when staff, volunteers, and supporters come together to nurture both people and place — one seed, one step, and one act of kindness at a time.
Photo: Reading in Bloom