Transforming Antelope House Gardens for Better Mental Health

Brighterway recently helped transform the garden at Antelope House into a vibrant, restorative space where patients can not only sit surrounded by nature, but actively benefit from the therapeutic effects of gardening and growing their own food.

When the team at Antelope House asked for help in creating “a better garden space,” we knew this was an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. What was once a bare, utilitarian courtyard is now a welcoming, colourful environment where patients and visitors can relax, reconnect, and thrive.

After all, Brighterway is about enhancing lives through nature and creativity in everything we do.

About Antelope House

Part of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare Foundation Trust, Antelope House is a specialist mental health hospital based in Southampton. It comprises four wards tailored to different patient needs:

Saxon Ward – functional mental illnesses (male)
Trinity Ward – functional mental illnesses (female)
Hamtun Ward – Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Abbey Ward – acute female mental health care

Outdoor spaces like the garden play a vital role in recovery by offering a calm, sensory-rich environment that promotes wellbeing and facilitates family visits and therapy sessions.

How Brighterway Helped

We began by clearing the tired garden beds, adding fresh compost and topsoil. Then came the transformation: planting herbs, pollinator-friendly flowers like roses, heartsease and scabious, and selecting safe, non-toxic varieties that provide year-round colour and interest.

Patients and staff told us they wanted a space for picnics, peaceful moments, and outdoor activities, so that’s what we aimed to build. “It’s made such a difference – now there’s movement and colour,” said one resident.

Another beamed: “The sunflower seeds saved from last year have all sprouted… good grief, are we going to have enough room?!” Yes, we made sure there would be! The garden beds were revitalised with love and care to accommodate growth, for both the plants and the people tending them.

Plants awaiting planting — Awaiting planting with some ‘home-grown’ compost of the best kind.

Planting the Seeds of Recovery

With the garden taking root, patients began asking to take on more responsibility: planting, weeding, watering, even germinating seeds. Inspired by their enthusiasm, we introduced vegetables lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries – with plans to expand this as gardening becomes an ongoing therapeutic activity.

A Transformational Impact

The results have been powerful. The garden is now a place of connection, joy, and calm that brings people together in shared purpose and peaceful routine.

Heather, Occupational Therapist, and Maria, Activities Co-ordinator, reflected: “A couple of Trinity Ward patients participated today and spent time watering all the plants—after having a good drink, the plants are looking happy now!”

Another patient added, “Now when I walk into the garden it makes me smile. It has a calmness and relaxed feel to it. There’s so much to look at, touch and taste. It’s amazing. Thank you.”

We cannot wait to see the 'pick and come again' lettuce seeds make an edible and unusual border to the lovely planting of ferns and brunnera. — We cannot wait to see the ‘pick and come again’ lettuce seeds make an edible and unusual border to the lovely planting of ferns and brunnera.

Growing Hope, One Bloom at a Time

Brighterway’s mission is to bring light into people’s lives through nature, art and innovation. At Antelope House, that light is now shining through every sunflower, strawberry, and smile in the garden.

More than just a makeover, this effort reminds us how small, thoughtful changes in our environment can create powerful shifts that promote healing and recovery in mental health.