The Gardening Project offers friendship, learning opportunities and physical work in a beautiful garden setting

The gardening group began as an allotment project around four years ago near County Hall. At that time the gardens at the Sale road site were very Spartan with just a few shrubs, hardly any flowers and ill kept lawns.

So we changed focus somewhat and started to work on Mind's Gardens on Thursdays. Adrian, Steve and Craig were more than happy with this arrangement and four years on two of the original group continue to attend. Adrian, (the one with the cap) continues to be a highly valued and conscientious member of the team. 

The group operates throughout the year regardless of the weather and now comprises of  around seven people, some from external agencies and one or two augmenting the group from Omnia residents.

We have strong links with Meridian East and Easton College, and three group members are currently working towards NVQ level 2 in horticulture, with much of the work being assessed on site.

We undertake a wide range of horticultural tasks and projects, from creating new beds and borders to tree, bulb and shrub planting, maintenance, planting of perennials, sowing seeds, propagation and lawn care. We have a few raised beds and grow salad crops and a few strawberries, raspberries and have just set some blackberries to be trained on wires this summer.

There are still a number of sections requiring considerable work and we are all looking forward to tackling these in the ensuing months. Group members are friendly and supportive with an eclectic range of interests, including carpentry, (nice bench David thankyou) drawing, literature, history and horticulture .   

To find out how you can join our group please contact Carl on 01603 432457

Quotes from group members:

'I joined the group to help pass the time and give me some exercise. I was asked to build a seat around a tree in the garden and this gave my mind, body and imagination exercise. I thoroughly enjoyed being here and doing the work. Carl (group facilitator) was a blessing to me as were the other people at Omnia'  David

'I enjoy coming to the group because I am learning  a lot from Carl, (an excellent teacher) and it gives me ideas to use in my own garden. I feel proud when my cuttings turn into plants. Since I started I feel a more useful person' The Hooded Claw

'Under Carl's fine foremanship the garden flourishes and all who work in the garden find it most therapeutic and relaxing. The tea at regular intervals, lubricates the routine and all that dovetails as though to a fine grand design'  Adrian