AH ANNUAL REPORT 2018

The Community Cluster
Developed with the vision of ‘a community parkland
for children’ the community cluster is a campus of
buildings that relate to each other but can be built in
phases over a period of years as finances and service
demands dictate. Designed via a RIBA competition
that attracted some of the biggest architectural names
in the country, the cluster is a very exciting, innovative
and challenging solution that brings several different
services into a shared space. The first phase of the
building will accommodate CAMHS, Neuro Assessment
Outpatients, Psychology, Orthotics and local Police
administration offices. Phases that follow are expected
to include the Dewi Jones Unit, Sandfield Park School
and a twelve bed Rehabilitation Unit. The building will
be situated between the Alder Centre and the Institute
in the Park on part of the demolition site identified
as Trust expansion space within the masterplan. The
chosen design will feature undercroft parking, views
of the future parkland, private garden areas and clear
landscaped routes between Eaton road and the park,
and the adjacent Alder Centre and Institute in the Park
in order to optimise the changing land levels. Detailed
design with users is scheduled to start in May with
construction expected to commence in late Autumn.
Springfield Park Initiatives
Access and Health
A series of developments completed within Springfield
Park this year are expected to encourage more local
use of the park as well as attract hospital visitors
and staff. They are targeted at easing access for and
encouraging interest from local residents, children and
families, nature lovers, and those interested in art. The
recent development of the woodland area in Springfield
Park and the installation of a pram and disabled
accessible forest path will allow the local community
greater access and it is expected that the availability of
a rich multi-sensory nature experience and restorative
environment will deliver physical and mental health
benefits. Much of this work was funded in Partnership
with a grant from Veolia and the next stage is the
design and installation of an interactive interpretation
trail in partnership with local schools allowing visitors to
learn about the environment as they walk.
Education and Research
and emotional intelligence, confidence, practical and
creative skills and team building in their primary school
classes. Feedback has been extremely positive and
other local Primary Schools are expected to participate
in the next school year. Discussions have commenced
with John Moores University to develop and an
evidence based research project utilising Springfield
Park as an outdoor research facility for the University’s
Environmental Department.
Art and Health
Alder Hey’s partnership with the Woodland Trust
has seen the installation of a Tree Charter Marker
sculpture in Springfield Park. This is one of 10 that
were installed in sites around the UK as a national
monument to mark the launch of the Charter for Trees,
Woods and People in November. The Springfield Park
sculpture is particularly relevant as it is the only one
in England with carvings and commissioned poetry
to celebrate the importance of trees to health and
wellbeing. This national monument will serve as a
legacy in the landscape for the Tree Charter, ensuring
it and the principles that underpin it remain in public
consciousness. It will also highlight the work Alder
Hey is doing to promote health and wellbeing through
connection with the natural environment.
A poetry competition that attracted 500 entries from as
far as Australia and India as well as many local schools
has led to the best poems from all age groups being
permanently displayed around the park to encourage
walking around the park and a greater understanding
about trees which are the subject of all the poems.
Participation
Meetings, workshops and communications will
continue with local schools, residents and the
Friends of Springfield Park Group to develop future
developments for 2018/19 which include the design of
the first area of park to be returned as well as smaller
items such as providing benches and seating areas for
varied age groups and smart storage bins for volunteer
use.
In partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust (a
registered charity dedicated to protecting wildlife and
natural habitats throughout Lancashire, Manchester
and North Merseyside), the Forest School area built
in the woodland and opened in May 2017, has gone
from strength to strength. Three local primary schools
have been trained as Forest School leaders and
used the venue on a weekly basis to develop social
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 40
Annual Report & Accounts 2017/18