A charity which aims to improve mental and physical health through gardening is expanding its operation.
Greenwell Horticultural Therapy has received £7,389.91 via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will enhance the service it offers at Baytree Garden Centre in Weston.
Baytree Garden Centre PHOTO: Google Maps
“There is a growing body of research which shows that gardening benefits people in many ways, including by encouraging healthy purposeful activity, by reducing stress and promoting feelings of calm by being outside interacting with nature and by meeting others and sharing a sense of joint enterprise, which helps to reduce feelings of loneliness,” explained founder member Karen Chard.
“We welcome everyone to our gardens who is interested in joining us, including people with disabilities, who have long term health conditions, who are isolated, who have experienced a major life event such as the loss of a loved one or who have mental health challenges.
“We also welcome people who would like to volunteer to help make a difference to others and perhaps improve their gardening knowledge as well.
“We have staff qualified by the Royal Horticultural Society and in horticultural therapy running our sessions so we can mentor participants to develop their knowledge and confidence in the garden.”
The group run gardens at Baytree Garden Centre every Monday and Friday morning from 10am to noon and Gosberton Medical Centre every Tuesday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm, as well as delivering monthly tabletop gardening and craft sessions at the Meadows Day Centre in Spalding.
“We work closely with NHS social prescribers at Baytree, where there are various groups established to support the needs of people including for people who suffer from chronic pain, who have experienced bereavement or who have mental health issues, and at Gosberton Medical Centre and other local surgeries,” Karen added.
“Since starting our small charity, we have made a positive and transformative difference to the lives of our beneficiaries and are looking forward to being able to develop and expand our work further using the funding we have obtained.”
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