Within These Walls, written by Janet Bolam, explores life inside a mental health institution through the stories of two patients.

The play is a collaboration between Human Story Theatre and Oxford Health Charity to mark the 200th anniversary of Warneford Hospital in Headington.

Amy Enticknap, co-founder and creative producer at Human Story Theatre, said: “Within These Walls reflects on the lives of those who lived within institutional walls, the people who cared for them, and the enduring healing power of human connection.

“The production offers a powerful lens on changing attitudes to mental health care, resilience, and dignity across generations.”

Described as ‘compassionate and deeply human,’ the play examines historical treatments, personal struggles, and the connections formed under difficult circumstances.

It follows two patients, Stu and Lucy, who develop a bond while navigating their experiences within the institution.

The production will run for two weeks from June 23 to July 4 in the former chapel at Warneford Hospital.

Proceeds from ticket sales will support the work of Oxford Health Charity.

Following the initial run, three additional performances will take place at the Old Fire Station theatre in Oxford from July 10 to 12.

Each showing will include a post-performance panel discussion featuring mental health professionals, guest experts, and the opportunity for audience members to take part in the conversation.

Specsavers Thame is marking the arrival of the new TED by Ted Baker eyewear collection with two in-store raffles, one of which gives customers the chance to win a pair of designer frames.

Neil Perry, store director at Specsavers Thame, said: “We’re always looking for new and engaging ways to bring our community together while supporting important causes.

“The launch of the TED by Ted Baker range felt like the perfect opportunity to do something a little different, combining style with fundraising.

“The response so far has been fantastic – people are really enjoying getting involved, trying on the new frames and having a bit of fun with the photo booth.

“At the same time, we’re proud to be raising money for Cancer Research UK and making a small contribution to the incredible work they do.”

The first raffle offers the chance to win a cuddly ‘Teddy Baker’ toy, with a suggested donation of £1 a strip and all proceeds donated to Cancer Research UK.

The second raffle offers a chance to win a pair of TED by Ted Baker frames from the new collection, with single vision lenses included.

Entry is free or with an optional donation, and customers simply need to try on a pair of the new frames and have their photo taken with a Polaroid camera in a photo booth-style setup.

The raffles are open until the end of the day on May 31, with winners to be drawn shortly afterwards.

Specsavers Thame can be found at 109 High Street.

The University of Oxford and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust project created a therapeutic horticulture garden at the Meadow Unit, a Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) psychiatric intensive care unit.

Designed for young people in acute mental health crisis who need intensive, highly supervised care, the unit featured an outdoor area that staff described as ‘barren’ and ‘depressing’.

The project was part of a broader study into how nature can support recovery and benefit wellbeing for both patients and staff, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre.

One co-researcher reflected: “It was so barren out there and depressing… so actually having some wildlife there, some plants, some bees, it adds some humanity.”

The scheme was developed through co-production, with medical and non-medical staff, ex-service users, estates colleagues, researchers, and a therapeutic horticulturalist collaborating over seven sessions between January and July 2024.

They discussed all aspects of the garden, prioritising colour, scent, herbs for cooking, places to sit, things to touch while ensuring every plant met strict safety requirements.

Estates staff improved topsoil and installed a cladded path for safe, mud-free access.

A layered planting design was selected to encourage biodiversity and attract pollinators while remaining safe and manageable.

On planting days, team members – including consultants, nurses, ex-service users, and receptionists – worked side by side in the soil, sparking discussions about where to put the lavender.

As the garden took shape, staff reported seeing more worms and bees.

The sensory engagement with the space was seen as a small but meaningful improvement to the environment.

Even patients unable to access the garden directly benefited from the view.

One staff member recalled how a patient in longer-term segregation quietly watched a flowerbed grow throughout the summer.

The garden became a ‘different horizon’ within the unit’s secure architecture.

Staff described the space as ‘a way out of the pressure cooker,’ while the project itself softened workplace hierarchies by encouraging collective, non-clinical activity.

Researchers named the approach ‘Hybrid Green Spaces’ – therapeutic environments that blur the boundaries between built and natural, inside and outside, patient and staff.

The team now advocates for treating green spaces as core therapeutic infrastructure within NHS care, not just peripheral amenities.

They believe that by supporting ‘ecological collective flourishing,’ it’s possible to create systems that care for both people and the environment.

The project was shaped by contributions from PICU staff, ex-service users, estate services, and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors, whose lived experiences enriched the development of the project.