A lit bench carrying crisis numbers now stands on the Hardwick Heath path to West Suffolk Hospital. The council says it is the first park in the area with one.

Hardwick Heath in Bury St Edmunds now has a suicide prevention bench. It sits on the footpath that links the Hardwick Heath car park to the West Suffolk Hospital site.

West Suffolk Council, which owns the heath, says it is the first park in the area to get one. The council announced it on 24 September 2026 (West Suffolk Council).

The bench carries the message “someone is always listening”. It is lit after dark, and it carries a plaque with a QR code and a list of contact numbers for professional support groups and charities.

Why this spot

The council chose Hardwick Heath itself. It gave two reasons:

  • the heath is next to West Suffolk Hospital, where people may be facing difficult news about themselves or someone they love
  • the park is well used by people and groups of all ages

Who is behind it

The bench comes from two charities working together.

Legend on the Bench places benches carrying crisis support information in parks across the UK and Ireland. Its own site puts the total at 153 benches installed (Legend on the Bench).

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) supports people bereaved by suicide. The two charities are running a joint scheme to put 35 suicide prevention benches in towns where SoBS groups are supporting local people. The council says both charities approached it, and Bury is one of those towns.

How it was paid for

Each bench costs £2,300, according to the council:

  • £1,300 comes from the Legend on the Bench charity
  • £1,000 is raised by the local SoBS group and its supporters

That split is deliberate. It means each community helps to bring its own bench.

Cllr Ian Shipp, the council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “I hope that any resident that is in crisis knows they are not alone and support is always available for them. This bench serves not only as a reminder that help is available, but also as a prompt to have important conversations about mental health.”

What it means for you

  • If you are struggling now, you do not have to wait until you are near the bench. Samaritans answers free on 116 123, day or night (Samaritans).
  • If you have lost someone to suicide, there is a group in Bury St Edmunds. SoBS lists an in-person group here meeting on the first Monday of every month, which makes the next one Monday 5 October. Its contacts are 07538 125 694 and burystedmunds@uksobs.org (SoBS support groups). The SoBS national helpline is 0300 111 5065 (SoBS).
  • To find the bench, park at the Hardwick Heath car park and take the path towards the hospital. There is more on the town’s green spaces in our guide to things to do in Bury St Edmunds.