World Therapeutic Horticulture Day

Coinciding with National Mental Health Awareness Week was World Therapeutic Horticulture Day!

Throughout the week, we shared the benefits of gardening on our social media pages and offered to accompany people to their first visit to one of the gardens. It had been identified at a meeting of the Community Gardens that this was an obstacle for many people with poor mental health - approaching a new place or group on their own. It is something we will build upon and develop relationships with organisations so that we can offer this support.

There was lots of cross-pollination across Inverclyde’s community gardens throughout the week, with Branchton Gardening group sharing seedlings they had grown with Belville Garden (as well as offering free pea and tomato plants to the public to inspire them to start growing!), and Andy from Blooming Inverkip helping to build new compost bays from palettes from Parklea at the Drying Green!

Bruce from the Inverclyde Shed led a very informative session at Shore Street garden, attended by ICFN, Belville, Kidron, The Drying Green and some volunteers. Bruce gave a brief history and then led us around the garden, discussing composting, comfrey fertilisier and a brief gide to everything they have growing in the garden. This was the first of 5 sessions funded by the RHS to Belville Garden.

Finally, in the afternoon, Alice and Kidron visited Parklea for a tour, to see what the volunteers there have been growing and to have a plant shop! Alice laid on a lovely spread to make the afternoon a very enjoyable and memorable on for the volunteers!