Gardening lifts patients’ spirits in rehabilitation

Volunteer Tang Choi-ling (left) gains support from PMH staff Carlo Leung (right) and comfort from gardening of peanuts and choy sum. She often volunteers with her daughter (centre) to assist in hospital greening.

Gardening is more than a hobby. It is also a means to promote rehabilitation. The rooftop of block L in Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) is a hidden garden for patients recovering from heart diseases and cancer. From Monday to Friday weekly, PMH’s Community Health Resource Centre arranges designated patients to grow plants, fruits and vegetables there, such as tomatoes and rosemary. Tang Choi‑ling, a patient recovered from heart disease, started cultivating this healthy interest for her body and mind after surgery. She even encourages her daughter to be a volunteer for hospital gardening activities. Carlo Leung, Centre‑in‑charge of Community Health Resource Centre, expresses that patients are inspired by the life cycle of plant – easing their stress and worries when they are facing ups and downs in life.