Greenwell Horticultural Therapy is a small charitable community group which is dedicated to improving health and wellbeing in South Holland through gardening and garden-related activities. Founder members Karen Chard and Diane Ridgley started working in care homes and the Meadows Day Centre in 2022 and delivering tabletop gardening and craft activities for older adults. These were very popular and led to almost immediate observable improvements in wellbeing.
In 2023, we began to work with NHS Social Prescribers to support the needs of different patient groups based at Baytree Garden Centre near Spalding. Together with volunteers and patients, we developed a Memorial Garden for members of a bereavement group. Since then, we have continued to develop an additional wellbeing gardening space which includes a vegetable growing area. We have also established a wellbeing garden at Gosberton Medical Centre for patients and continue to work at the Meadows.
Using STH (Social and Therapeutic Horticulture), we have supported participants with many different needs, including: mental health challenges; long term medical conditions; recovery from surgery; learning disabilities; loneliness and isolation.
We are now run by a larger team who have the following areas of expertise:
Karen Chard (RHS qualified gardener and trained Horticultural Therapist)
Diane Ridgley (our craft specialist and partner gardener)
Joanna Ward (RHS qualified gardener and landscape specialist)
Michael Harper (our finance and admin lead and maintenance help)
Liz Gent (partner gardener, funding/publicity and admin help)
We also have a dedicated team of volunteers who provide valuable help and energy in all we do.
Our Patron is Sir John Hayes, MP who has been an active and enthusiastic supporter since 2022.
