Norfolk’s mental health hospital has received an amazing donation of 27 bird tables after an appeal from a dedicated support worker.

Jason Coward, Care Support Worker for Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, wrote to companies around Norfolk to ask if they would be able to donate any bird tables.

In what he describes as an ‘overwhelming’ response the ward was given an incredible 27 bird tables in addition to numerous vouchers and discounts on supplies.

Jason, who works on Rollesby Ward at Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich, asked local businesses for the unusual donations after a patient said he missed seeing birds everyday during his stay.

“Due to the nature of our ward, which is a psychiatric intensive care unit, we sometimes get patients that don’t always wish to interact with others and will spend a lot of time in their bedrooms,” said Jason. ”My thought was that the birds would not only be something nice to look at from the bedrooms, but that patients could assist in feeding the birds daily as a therapeutic exercise.”

The exceptional generosity of the donating organisations has allowed the additional bird tables to be distributed around Hellesdon Hospital, benefitting patients on other wards on the site.

Jason added: “Staying in any hospital will never be the same as being at home, but as staff we try to make the ward as comfortable and homely as we possibly can, and the bird tables are a part of that endeavour.”

The companies that supplied the Trust with bird tables are Mousehold Garden Centre, R.G. Carter, Anglian Sheds, Moulton Nurseries Plant Centre, Fakenham Garden and Pet Centre, as well as an anonymous donor. The companies that supplied vouchers and discounts are Notcutts, The Bawdeswell Garden Centre, QD Stores Group, North Walsham Garden Centre and Taverham Nursery Centre.