BAYTREE WELLBEING GARDEN
Since late 2022, Greenwell Horticultural Therapy has been working with clients and volunteers to develop a wellbeing garden at Bay Tree Garden Centre. The project is supported by Mr Reinhard Biehler, the owner and Director of Bay Tree, who has very generously allowed indoor and outdoor space at the garden centre to be used by various NHS mental health and wellbeing groups run by social prescribers. Mr Biehle has also donated plants, materials and equipment to the project as have local businesses and individuals.
The Wellbeing Garden was set up primarily to support the needs of members of a bereavement group, but is now also used by a wider group of people who enjoy working together to create a calm, peaceful and beautiful space which benefits the wellbeing of everyone. Greenwell has worked closely with NHS Social Prescribers and the project has developed from a small group with a handful of people to a much bigger group with diverse needs.
Before and after the development of the bereavement garden space
We started work on the Bereavement Garden at Baytree in Autumn 2023. When we started, this was an unloved, unused space which can be seen in the first 4 photographs. By the time we had worked on the garden for the 9 months until July 2024, it looked very different as we had created a calm and welcoming space where people could come to remember their loved ones. We worked with members of the bereavement group and NHS social prescribers, who contributed seating, a wooden arch, statues and many plants and craft items to personalise the garden. The last 3 photographs show the garden after the development.
We meet every Monday and Friday morning between 9.30 and 12. We can be found at the back of the restaurant through a door on the left. As with all our projects, everyone is welcome to come along and volunteer, work with us or just meet and have a chat over a cuppa. Whether you are a complete beginner to gardening or an expert, you will be a valuable member of our team.
The garden now includes a larger wellbeing space and a new vegetable growing area which is still under development. Although it is very new, we already have a good harvest in prospect as the potatoes, tomatoes, beans, courgettes and other vegetables are growing really well!
WELLBEING GARDEN AT GOSBERTON MEDICAL CENTRE
The wellbeing garden was set up in 2023 to support the mental health and wellbeing of people living in the area, including patients at the surgery. Greenwell works closely with Rachel Okwuadi the Gosberton Social Prescribing Link Worker and other members of the staff to signpost the garden to patients who may benefit from being active outdoors in nature, meeting other people and working together to create a garden which is productive and beautiful.
The garden is still in the early stages of development, but we have already cleared the site (which was very overgrown when we started), planted up 3 raised beds with veg, built and installed compost bins and planted 2 fruit trees and a hawthorn hedge. The garden has a wonderful view over the fields which we enjoy when working or sitting and enjoying a cuppa and a chat.
We meet every Tuesday afternoon between 1.30 and 4. We can be found on the left of the surgery site next to the staff car park. As with all our projects, everyone is welcome to come along and volunteer, work with us or just meet and have a chat over a cuppa. Whether you are a complete beginner to gardening or an expert, you will be a valuable member of our team.
THE MEADOWS DAY CENTRE
Greenwell started going to the Meadows in 2022 to deliver tabletop gardening and craft activities to the clients. We work closely with the management and staff at the Centre, who support our activities very well. Most of the clients are older adults and some have sensory or physical disabilities, or long term health conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s. As the staff know and understand the individual needs of their clients, they offer valuable one-to-one support for them to be able to access the activities.
We welcome volunteers to assist us with the delivery of our sessions, which are approximately once a month.
Gardening activities include potting up and planting seasonal plants such as bulbs, violas and geraniums, as well as edible plants such as tomatoes and cress. Most of the craft activities we offer include a plant-focused element such as making cards with dried flowers, making lavender bags and printing with vegetables. The activities are designed to provide fine motor skill exercise, encourage focus and concentration, follow a sequence of instructions, be creative and of course, have fun.
