Chestnut Nursey, in Poole, is run by Plants and Minds, a charity which promotes therapeutic horticulture as a basis to provide realistic work experience in a non-pressured environment, allowing people struggling with their mental health the opportunity to flourish.
Andy Venneck, nursery manager, said: “Everything here has a higher purpose. What we do isn’t just for the bottom line.
Chestnut Nursery (Image: NQ)
“This is for people health and safety, their mental health, for the wider community, and it shows that everything here is grown for a higher purpose.”
The charity has been operating for 35 years, with its current site opening in 2001 and currently has around 60 placements with mental illness who come in regularly to work, learning professional skills and connect with others.
“A lot of people who are referred to us suffer from social isolation,” said Andy.
“Coming here gives them a focus on the week, it gives them a meaningful purpose where they can be active in the air, in the sun, doing something that gives back to the wider community as well.
“For some of them it’s literally jut a lifeline that keeps them well, stops them ending up back in a mental health institution.
“We relieve a lot of strain and stress of the mental health services, which why our primary referred is the community mental health teams and we’ve got really good links and connections with the widen mental health community.”
“This charity can support everyone and anyone,” said Andy.
Marc Rosenberg, PR and communications officer, said over the past six years the number of service users on the horticultural therapy programme who have progressed into paid employment has increased by 300 per cent.
“It’s a community. They gain friendships, they gain support, they can access support from the charity,” added Andy.
The centre offers a range of plants from seasonal flowers and shrubs to exotic plants and houseplants.
Since its redevelopment in 2021, Marc said sales have increased by 150 per cent despite independent garden centres struggling nationally.
“It’s very rare to have a thriving independent garden centre, particularly one that grows their own plants on site” Marc said.
“We have got a very loyal following, not just of people who want to support the charity, but also people that come here for the plants because they know that our plants are healthy.”
Marc said the nursery has seen an increase in houseplant sales among younger customers for first homes or for people who many not have a garden.
“What’s amazing is that this plant that someone’s bought that’s giving them loads of joy in their garden, has been grown by a charity and by buying it it’s given purpose to someone’s life who has been suffering from mental illness.”
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