It’s peak growing time at Garden Needs with the strawberries, beans and courgettes thriving!
Our Garden Needs scheme is a mental health project with a difference. Ot is a none clinical service where any Salford resident can come and get involved. Everyone from people with mild depression or anxiety through to people who are recovering from more serious mental illness gets involved.
It’s a large and open site offering an oasis of calm in what can seem a busy and chaotic world. Because it’s a big site, there’s room for people to work alone or in small groups – it’s a lot less intimidating coming to such an open site where you can hear the birdsong.
People coming along to Garden Needs help us grow vegetables for our Food Club at The Angel. This means that as well as accessing a service they are also giving something back, tis provides a sense of purpose.
In addition to growing, harvesting and maintenance we also grow some ornamental plants based on what our volunteers want to grow – we currently have a new rose garden which is taking shape.
We run lots of one off sessions including woodland wellbeing sessions in the woods which range from conservation to campfire cooking – all include taking people back to nature which gives a sense of calm.
We have been running this project for many years with great results. People who access the service gradually increase their confidence and learn to socialise again. They find ways to cope with mental health and improve wellbeing by using nature and outdoors.
To find out more email hello@socialadventures.org.uk
