CASE STUDY: Wellness Garden Launched at Construction Site Project

The Riverside 2 Project Wellness Garden

Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) recently announced the grand opening of a health and wellbeing-focused wellness garden at their Riverside 2 construction project. Located on the banks of the River Thames in East London. The garden has been incorporated into the Riverside 2 Waste-to-Energy facility which HZI is constructing on behalf of the Cory Group, a waste management and recycling firm.

Championing the Environment

Designed with the on-site workforce in mind, the project was set up by HZI to provide their workforce with a calming space to relax in, surrounded by nature. The tranquil landscaped zone contains a mix of planting boxes containing a diverse array of shrubs, climbing plants and flowers.

Supporting Recycling

Local garden centres supplied the plants and flowers for the garden, while planters were constructed by the HZI team from recycled used wooden pallets. In addition to this, waste materials from the construction activity taking place on-site have been repurposed to build garden seats. A local artist from Thamesmead has created stimulating street art on the hoarding surrounding the garden. His design features wild plant foliage and subtle colours that blend in with the natural theme of the garden, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.

Fostering Collaboration

Not only is this wellness garden a great initiative from an environmental perspective, but it has also fostered team building and a sense of community amongst the workers who have contributed to it. HZI team members actively took part in a variety of sessions together to bring the garden to life, from physically planting the plants and shovelling topsoil into plant boxes, to laying bark at the site after work hours. Together, these activities served to boost team morale and strengthen bonds while providing a shared sense of purpose.

Benefitting the Workforce

The end result has been the production of an inviting natural space that champions nature while also providing an on-site sanctuary that team members can use at any time to relax. This is something that HZI have committed to in their work at Riverside 2, as they recognise the importance of protecting workforce wellbeing and putting measures in place to create a positive and productive workplace, in line with the standards set by the CCS Code of Considerate Practice. Having a calming space in the workplace has been shown to significantly improve workers’ well-being and mood, while serving to reduce on-site stress levels and boost team productivity.