OUR SERVICES
WHAT WE OFFER
Weekly therapeutic gardening sessions – in our purpose-built Demonstration Garden, or outreach sessions in the community. All sessions led by tutors trained in horticultural therapy.
- Talks on various topics throughout the year.
- Tours of the Demonstration Garden – see examples of raised beds, containers and adapted tools.
- Advice on adapting a garden for low maintenance or disability.
- Annual events for our gardeners – outings to gardens of interest around the county, and our summer barbecue and Autumn Show.
All ages and abilities are welcome. No need for previous experience of gardening! Individual needs are met through use of different gardening techniques and adapted tools.
We strive to work in a way that respects and conserves the natural environment and its resources.
40% of our gardeners report “a big improvement in physical health”. 90% say they feel “much less isolated”.
WHAT IS HORTICULTURAL THERAPY?
Gardening is a powerful tool to improve quality of life for people with disabilities.
Working in the fresh air, nurturing plants, enjoying the harvest, sharing achievement together.
The benefits of gardening…
- Physical and mental fitness, well-being and sensory stimulation.
- Increase in confidence and self-esteem.
- Gaining skills and enabling a move into employment.
- Re-building life after illness or accident.
- Working with others and meeting new people.
A TYPICAL WEEK
Horticultural sessions at Herefordshire Growing Point run from the first week in March through to mid December.
Monday morning
10.00 -11.00am: gentle gardening for elderly group with mild to moderate dementia, spaces available.
11.00am – 12.30 pm: gentle gardening and craft activities for more active adults with mixed disabilities. No current vacancies.
Tuesday morning
9.45 -11.45 am: moderately active gardening, craft activities and cooking opportunities. Mixed ability adults, lively sociable group. Currently, space for one gardener.
Wednesday morning
10.30 – 11.30am: Affinity Trust group session for young adults, mainly craft activities.
11.30am – 12.30pm: small group of profoundly disabled adults with carers. Spaces available for one or two individuals with a carer.
Wednesday afternoon
1.00pm – 2.00pm: physically active adults from Affinity Trust who enjoy basic horticultural activities. Possible vacancy with prior agreement from Affinity.
2.00 – 3.00pm: small group of physically able adults with learning disabilities who enjoy gardening together. Spaces available.
Thursday afternoon
1.00 – 3.00pm: active older gardeners with various mild impairments who enjoy a full range of gardening activities. Space available.
Please contact us for details of our outreach sessions in residential and care homes around the county.
We can usually accommodate individual gardeners in existing groups. For a new group of gardeners wishing to join Growing Point, every effort will be made to establish a session especially for them.
Transport
We now have our own people carrier, thanks to a very generous donation by Stanley House, Bosbury. Talk to our charity manager about help with transport.
“I like the beauty of being here, seeing the flowers.”
THE DEMONSTRATION GARDEN
The demonstration garden is the place where we run our therapy sessions. It shows what is possible for disabled people who want to carry on gardening.
We are delighted to be working from a new base with our demonstration garden at Headway House, Credenhill. This is the home of Headway Herefordshire, a charity with which we have much in common. The site has excellent facilities allowing our therapeutic services to flourish. Growing Point clients can enjoy using the new polytunnel (thanks to a generous donation from a local trust), a lovely large greenhouse, and many raised beds with mixed planting. And we still have plenty of places to sit and relax with friends in the garden.
There is more work to be done to develop the gardens, and we are involving our gardeners in this – they are learning new skills as a result.
THE AUTUMN SHOW
Gardeners of the Year cup – 2020 winners: Leadon Bank Ledbury
Our annual show is held at the end of the season in the Demonstration Garden. This is the time for gardeners to show what they have achieved during the growing year.
in 2020 because of the pandemic, our autumn show had to be held virtually. Gardeners sent in entries in several categories, including miniature garden, climbing plants grown from seed, painted garden sculptures and dried flower arrangements.
There was a small gathering at Holme Lacy on the day. We were honoured to have the High Sheriff, Mrs Tricia Thomas with us. She can be seen in the photograph helping to judge entries and award prizes.
Our new friends at K8Create made the wonderful prizes – etched glass plaques for all prize-winners and an engraved glass vase for Gardeners of the Year. Congratulations to all.
RELATED LINKS
Thrive www.thrive.org.uk
UK horticultural charity promoting gardening and horticulture for therapy and health, training and employment.
Herefordshire Growing Point is an affiliated member
Trellis www.trellisscotland.org.uk
Scottish charity supporting the use of horticulture to improve health, well-being and life opportunities for all.
Herefordshire Horticultural Hub www.hortihub.co.uk
Formed in 2012 to promote and link the exceptional businesses and skills in horticulture found in and around the region.
Perennial www.perennial.org.uk
Providing free and confidential advice, support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in, or retired from horticulture.
Carry On Gardening www.carryongardening.org.uk
Award winning website with numerous ideas and tips for making gardening easier.
Growing Local www.growinglocal.org.uk
Hereford based community interest company helping to develop links between local growers and the community, and offering educational land-based courses for children and adults.
HVOSS (Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Services) www.hvoss.org.uk
Offers support services to ensure charities, community groups, clubs and social enterprises can thrive and continue to make a huge contribution to life in the county.
Holme Lacy Campus www.hlcollege.ac.uk/campuses/580f82a629edf/Holme-Lacy-Campus
Home to our Demonstration Garden and part of Hereford and Ludlow College.
Herefordshire Mind www.herefordshire-mind.org.uk
Provides support for people affected by mental distress. Their Directory connects individuals, organisations and professionals to services, advice and opportunities across Herefordshire and beyond.
Herefordshire Growing Point is included in the directory of services.
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