GGM Landscaping’s team was delighted to help care for a place where families can spend cherished time together.
When a child is in hospital, those moments matter, and we wanted the grounds to feel welcoming for everyone staying at the house.
Find out how we carried out ground maintenance at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
A green space for families to play and unwind with expert landscaping
Crossbasket House gives parents and carers a free place to stay while their seriously ill child is treated at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.
Part of the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity group, the house is on the hospital campus, just a few minutes’ walk away.
Some families spend weeks or months here, away from home while their child receives care.
During that time, the outdoor space gives them somewhere to sit together between hospital visits, with room for children to play and parents to get a little fresh air.
We wanted to give these families a pleasant, safe place to enjoy during their stay.
That meant taking care of the pruning and shaping of the trees, cutting back overgrown planting and tidying the beech hedge so the grounds felt welcoming and looked well cared for.
Hedge trimming and shaping the overgrown plants
Our project took place over the summer months, with bird nesting season in mind, we checked the beech hedge for birds before starting the hedge trimming.
Once we knew it was clear, we gave the hedge a neat, even cut, and used chainsaws to cut back the overgrown plants that had started to spill over the pavement.
The creeping juniper beside the paving also needed some attention, so we shaped it back to tidy that corner of the space.
The result is a cleaner, more welcoming space, and a clear, accessible pavement.
We aimed to make a space that’s easier and safer for everyone to walk along, including anyone using a wheelchair, walking aid or pushchair.
Pruning the trees at Crossbasket House
Our tree pruning at Crossbasket House included caring for a ‘Crimson King’, a Norway maple with beautiful deep purple leaves.
We gave the maple a two-stage prune, beginning with a pole pruner.
This long-reach tool allowed us to cut branches while standing on the ground, reducing the amount of work needed at height.
Our trained team then worked from a ladder to remove branches and finish shaping the tree.
Working safely at height requires careful planning, access equipment suited to the task and people who know how to use it safely.
GGM Landscaping team tidying up the grounds
GGM Landscaping safely woodchipped the cut branches in the car park and took away the excess branches and hedge trimmings, finishing by raking the area.
The finished grounds now have safe, well-kept trees, a freshly trimmed beech hedge and neatly shaped planting along the paving.
It’s a calm, welcoming outdoor space where families can take a breather and spend time together during what can be a really difficult time.
We’re so proud to have played a small part in caring for this space, and we’re grateful to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for trusting us with the work.
It was a project that meant a lot to our whole team, and we hope to continue to help maintain their grounds.
Why maintaining shared green spaces matters
Shared grounds need to be comfortable places to spend time, with room to move around and planting that makes the surroundings feel welcoming.
Looking after the trees and hedges helps keep those spaces useful for the people who rely on them.
Keeping outdoor areas safe and easy to use
When shrubs spread across paving or branches extend into walkways, they can leave less room for people to pass.
That can make an ordinary journey harder for someone using a wheelchair, pushing a buggy or walking beside a child.
Regular grounds care keeps this growth in check and gives those responsible for the space opportunities to spot problems.
Tree safety also needs attention from someone qualified to assess the trees and decide what work is appropriate.
At Crossbasket House, pruning the trees and clearing away the cut material were part of leaving the grounds ready for families to use.
The final rake and removal of trimmings mattered alongside the more visible changes to the planting.
Making room for rest, play and better wellbeing
Families staying at Crossbasket House have a great deal on their minds.
Being able to step outside, talk things through with someone close, and enjoy a quiet moment among the trees can offer a little breathing space.
Children can play while the adults sit nearby, giving everyone a chance to enjoy time together outside.
We wanted the grounds to feel like a place families could settle into for a while, without needing to go far from the house.
Creating a welcoming impression
The condition of outdoor areas contributes to how a place feels on arrival.
A trimmed hedge and planting kept within its space can make an entrance or shared garden look cared for, while overgrowth can obscure the features that make it attractive.
For a charity or community organisation, welcoming grounds help express care for the people visiting.
The detail matters.
Shaping an existing shrub can bring definition back to a planted area, allowing its colour and form to stand out again.
Keeping that appearance takes continued attention as plants grow.
Planning future maintenance around the planting and how the grounds are used helps preserve the space’s character, with tree and hedge work considered alongside everyday tidying.
Arrange tree and hedge care for your grounds with GGM Landscaping
GGM’s tree surgery team works across Glasgow, Lanarkshire and the Central Belt for homeowners, businesses and councils. We’d be pleased to bring the same care to your garden or shared grounds.
If you’re worried about a tree or struggling to keep an overgrown hedge under control, you don’t need to know exactly what work to ask for.
Tell us what’s concerning you and how you’d like to use the space, and we’ll talk it through together.
Our arborists hold City & Guilds NPTC certifications, and we’re members of the Arboricultural Association.
We can explain the pruning or hedge work we recommend and provide a quote, so you can decide how you’d like to move forward.
We’d love to hear about your garden or grounds.
Call 07946 322717 or enquire online to arrange a free survey with our team.