As part of Hillfields community engagement it was highlighted that there was a need for connection to local green spaces for wellbeing.
Myself and a project partner offered to set up and run a group that could offer this using the community garden as a space.
Planning, delivering and evaluating the groups' activities by writing a review (with quantitative and qualitative data) and feedback, using photographic evidence and written testimonies. Review of Hillfields Gardening for Wellbeing April -July 2023

Aims of the group: To improve participants' mental health and wellbeing by connecting with nature and the environment.

To build confidence and self-esteem through the learning of new skills within the garden and participating in creative activities that connect people to the space. and 5 pathways to nature connection. 

To lower the risk of loneliness through regular social interaction in a closed group setting by enabling connection to others within the group and offering opportunities to the wider community

Gardening can help achieve the 'five ways to wellbeing and the five pathways to nature connection. Through these activities we can connect, be active, take notice, learn and give and senses, emotion, beauty, meaning and compassion 

The sessions run weekly for 6 weeks during term time and participants are invited to be involved in as little or as much of the session as they feel comfortable to.

We welcome people into the safe space of the garden and start with making a drink and checking in to see how people’s weeks have been. We lead a short guided relaxation/grounding exercise. We then introduce the gardening activities and creative activities. ​​The garden is different every week and each activity will depend on the season but here are examples of some of the things we do:

• Sowing seeds                             

• Watering, weeding and taking care of our plants

• Creating seed paper

• Making sun-catchers

• Creating cyanotype wallhangings

• Monitoring wildlife and changes to the garden

At the end of each session we check in to see how people have found the session. We each give a word to describe our experience/feeling/thought on the session. Some of the words are: 

‘calmer, sharing, curious, present, happy, grateful, busy, resilience, sensory, alive, satisfying’

The Garden: Hillfields Community Garden has made a massive impact in the local area since the project started in 2019. The main garden group has planted over 300 trees in the park, it has an orchard, a wildflower area, a bug hotel and 8 raised beds growing fruit, flowers, herbs and vegetables. 

The Gardening for Wellbeing group has responsibility for one raised bed which we have named 'flourish' and we share the care of the other areas of the garden and raised beds with other groups/ users of the garden.

Comments from group participants:

"Every session I've taken a little something back home- sometimes seeds to plant or craft to finish. It's been helpful to bring the group into my home, and remember that I can do things and I can be with people”

“ Feel at one with nature”

“The group is welcoming, I feel part of a team”