A stunning new mural has been unveiled at Glasgow’s Leverndale Hospital as part of a wider project to transform the campus, improving both indoor and outdoor spaces, increasing greenspace and biodiversity and improving the environment for our patients, staff and the local community.

The Design in the Dale group, which includes patients and service users, carers, third sector providers, staff and volunteers, has been working over a number of years to improve the health and wellbeing of people on site through arts and health activities that are transforming the hospital. Described by one service user as ‘bland and depressing’, one ward in particular was seen as being drab and uninviting. One of the aims of the project was to provide a more appropriate setting to treat those impacted by mental ill-health.

The current landscaping project has already addressed many of the issues raised, radically improving the greenspace of the facility in the south side of the city. Working with Urban Roots, corporate volunteers, the Royal Conservatoire and landscape designers, Erz, among others, the work has been shaped by people who use the site, creating a landscape that’s filled with biodiversity and accessible to people with mobility issues.

Lead artist Lindsay Perth @Lippi spent time working with those who use the facility to gather their opinions and designs, many of which have been incorporated in the final work. The gable end mural was designed by Lindsay based on feedback from people and the final design was opened up to a vote with every person on site being given the opportunity to cast their vote.

Lindsay said: “The mural can be seen from several points on site. The gable end has been turned into a mindful landscape scene in a bold graphic style with a soft blended sunrise using the colour palette that links the tiles and the seats. The mural has a horizon, a visual path through the rolling hills and a bird in flight hovers in the sky above the rising sun.”

Samantha Flower, Care Group Occupational Therapist, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC) project lead for this work, said: “When I’m out and about everyone comments on how peaceful the site is. People are amazed by the mural and regularly stop to admire it as it has taken shape.”

The project, which will develop further in the coming months, includes an outdoor seated area for Recreational Therapy. Lucy Dolan, a nurse in Perinatal Services, likes to eat her lunch there. She said: “It’s nice and relaxing - it’s a good place for people to bring visiting relatives, who have commented on the nice colours.”

Funding for the project has been secured from Volunteer Services Scotland, Smarter Choices Smarter Places, Creative Scotland, The Green Exercise Partnership and the NHSGGC and Glasgow City HSCP Endowment funds.

Hazel Thomson, Inpatient Services Manager at Leverndale commented, saying: “The upgrading of the paths and walkways around the site has really been the first step in enhancing access and promoting full use of this large hospital site. There has been significant investment into planting of trees, shrubs and wild flowers across the site and seating areas have been introduced. The mural is spectacular and has been a huge hit.”