A Bath social enterprise described as “the smallest garden centre with the biggest heart” is celebrating five years of community work in Royal Victoria Park.
Photo courtesy of Urban Garden Bath
The Urban Garden, which launched in 2021, combines plant sales with training and support for local adults who are unemployed or struggling with their mental health.
Run as a social enterprise, it reinvests all profits into free courses and programmes designed to improve mental health and wellbeing while helping people build confidence and move towards employment. Over the past five years, more than 80 trainees have taken part.
Training coordinator Sophia Rowe said: “It has been a joy to watch people grow in skills and confidence, and improve their mental wellbeing.
“Friendships have been made and people have been inspired to follow new paths in horticulture.”
The Urban Garden was founded by Matt Smail, whose mission for the project is to “take the power of plants and use it to help people grow”.
He has developed the venture in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council, with the garden centre based at the lower end of the council nursery site in Royal Victoria Park. The council also supplies some of the plants sold there.
Since opening, more than 200 local people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities have volunteered with the project.
Director Matt Smail said: “The Urban Garden is truly an oasis of calm in the centre of Bath where the community can come together to learn new skills and buy plants.
“Watching individuals progress – whether it’s gaining the confidence to step into the garden centre or even securing a job – is incredibly rewarding.”
The Urban Garden is inviting people to join its official fifth anniversary celebrations on Wednesday 1st April from 3pm to 6pm.
The event will include free fizz, music and a talk, as well as the chance to read stories from trainees who have benefited from the support and training on offer.
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