A Worcestershire couple has received top honors at BBC Gardeners’ World Live for their groundbreaking Menopause Garden design. Ruth Gwynn, a garden designer, and her husband, Rupert Keys, a landscaper, won the Platinum Medal and Best Show Garden award for the Newson Health Menopause Garden. This award-winning garden aims to create a safe and tranquil space for women to reflect on their health and discover the nutritional and physical benefits of plants for mental well-being.
The Menopause Garden features interactive symptom stations that explore different aspects of menopause and perimenopause. Clinicians and experts were present at the garden to provide information and advice on diet and nutrition, the benefits of gardening, exercise, mindfulness, and mental well-being. The garden was designed to raise awareness of women’s health and menopause, with an emphasis on understanding the challenges faced during perimenopause and menopause.
The garden was built by Rupert and his team, with assistance from the TASK Academy based in Birlingham, Worcestershire. Rupert, with over 30 years of experience in the landscaping industry, runs TASK Academy, which offers practical landscaping courses taught by industry professionals. TASK Academy aims to address the skills gap in the industry and provides one-day courses on various topics such as dry-stone walling, garden planting design, and bricklaying.
Receiving the prestigious Platinum Medal and Best Show Garden award, Rupert expressed his gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the importance of collaboration in their work. He acknowledged his wife, Ruth, and the talented team for their dedication and creativity in creating the Menopause Garden. Rupert also emphasized the significance of raising awareness about menopause and its symptoms, stressing the importance of well-being and garden spaces in alleviating these symptoms.
Dr. Louise Newson, a menopause specialist, also expressed her excitement about the Menopause Garden and its ability to provide a safe and educational space for women. Dr. Newson highlighted the benefits of gardening for mental and physical health, particularly during menopause. She emphasized the significance of the award in raising awareness and empowering women in terms of their health.
The Newson Health Menopause Garden represents a groundbreaking approach to women’s health and serves as a tribute to the power of holistic medicine. It aims to provide inclusive and accessible menopause support. Dr. Newson and the team at Newson Health are thrilled to have won this award and are excited about the impact the Menopause Garden will have on the understanding and management of menopause.
The Menopause Garden is a significant step forward in promoting conversations around menopause and addressing the challenges women face during this stage of life. By winning awards and gaining recognition, it has brought the topic into the spotlight and highlighted the importance of supporting women’s health. This groundbreaking garden serves as a reminder of the power of nature and its ability to positively impact mental and physical well-being.
