Maggie's Centre & Labyrinth, Ninewells, Dundee

Following a recent "Beechgrove Garden" STV programme, a friend and I thought we'd like to investigate the new garden that's been created at Maggie's Centre in Dundee. The garden is very new, but already has so much of interest for everyone and it will be good to check again in a year or two and see how it's filling out.

As it's right next to Ninewells Hospital, areas of the garden have been planted with relevant plants for the different departments e.g. Cardiac, Gastro-Enterology etc, which we thought was a very clever and unusual idea. There are also parts which have been designed in conjunction with a local nursery, including a grass furniture lawn, complete with sofa and stools and a Bug Hotel:-)

The Maggie's Centre itself was designed by architect Frank Gehry and is a delightful building, both outside and inside. There is a particularly lovely sun terrace which was closed to visitors today, but which looks right out over the Firth of Tay and must be lovely on a warm, sunny day.

The unusual labyrinth in front of the Centre was designed by Arabella Lenox-Boyd and is 33 metres in diameter. It is designed to encourage patients to walk slowly and contemplate their life and to look forward. If you care to look in Large, you may just spot an Anthony Gormley iron man from the "Another Place" series keeping watch over the Centre (on the left of the picture).

We continued our walk to the Arboretum that lies behind the centre and enjoyed the huge variety and colour of trees and bushes in this area and occasional views sweeping down to the sea.

For all the number of times I've visited the hospital, this is the first time I've been to see either Maggie's Centre or the Arboretum! You really don't always know what's on your doorstep:-)