A chef says she's delighted the hospital she works at is one of the first in the county to grow their own produce for patient meals.

Sarah Pambour, head chef at Hawkhurst Community Hospital, has been waiting 30 years for a food garden to be launched.

The chef from Tunbridge Wells joined the hospital in January 2020 after previously working at Sevenoaks Hospital.

She said: "I have always wanted to do a garden, and thought how wonderful it would be to feed the patients.

"However I had never been in the right place at the right time, until I came here two and a half years ago.

"Then Covid started, and I began to experiment at home - I grew a couple of strawberry and tomato plants for the hospital, and they went down really well.

"The idea was put to me in April 2021 to trial a community garden. I jumped at the chance and it snowballed from there."

So far the plot has produced tomatoes, strawberries, courgettes, lettuce, spring onion, potatoes, broad and runner beans.

"I'm really pleased how it has gone," Sarah said. "The plan for next year is to go even bigger.

"It is so much nicer for patients to have homegrown items, something that they have helped create.

"We go on a three week menu cycle, so if I am making a lasagne, I would use the vegetables from the garden.

"Also I hope that I can cut down on using my veg supplier - saving budget money."

The 53-year-old says the garden not only provides produce for patient meals, but also helps their mental and physical wellbeing too.

She explained: "No one wants to be in hospital do they? Patients come in, they're really poorly, and their health and wellbeing is really low.

"Instead of going into the therapy room, they can come outside and just do a bit in their own time.

"If they want to plant something, weed, or pick tomatoes - it is always there for them. It's all about interaction."

She added: "A lot of the community hospitals are doing flower gardens - which is absolutely fantastic - but our one is the first to grow produce and get patients involved as well.

"I harvest at 7.30am and the food is on patients' plates by lunchtime.

"It's so lovely to come outside and see everything grow, knowing that patients and staff benefit from it and that it's a safe area.

"If it has been a rough day, staff can grab a cup of tea, sit out in the space and rest and relax a bit - that's really important as well, because it has been tough going for them."

At the beginning of the year the hospital won the Elsie Wagg (Innovation) Scholarship, which is run by The Queens Nursing Institute and awarded them with a £5,000 grant.

"It will boost the garden considerably," Sarah said. "The grant will allow us to get raised beds, compost, and hopefully a greenhouse.

"We will be starting a study soon on the benefits of outdoors and gardening for patients.

"I have made a workbook which they can fill out to see how they felt after being in the space."

The grand opening of the 'Food for Thought and Reminiscence garden' will take place on Friday, August 12.