Therapeutic Horticulture - Part 2 (A Living Example)

Much is talked about Horticultural Therapy but how often do we see it 'at work'? Gardening can be carried out by most of us and many of us find gardening therapeutic but can it be used as a vehicle to give a quality of life to those with mental illness? One in four adults suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives, and it has been found that growing plants is excellent therapy for mental problems. Due to the effects of their illness these people are unable to expect what most of us take for granted - a home, family, social life and a job. Some people with mental illness find it difficult or impossible to compete on the open job market due to the pace and pressures of the commercial world and the stigma and prejudice attached to their situation.

A small registered charity located in central southern England is pioneering a project named the Sheltered Work Opportunities Project (SWOP) which aims to develop a scheme to educate and rehabilitate by providing a range of occupations and vocational opportunities through the medium of horticultural therapy. 

Started in 1990 it aims to provide a sympathetic yet realistic and purposeful working environment, offering either a 'stepping stone' back to open employment for those who need to regain skills and self-confidence, or a sheltered working environment for those who may never be able to compete in the open job market but for whom opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way are crucial to their ongoing mental health and stability. This is a commercial nursery providing hardy stock shrubs to a wide variety of customers including wholesalers, local authorities, nurseries, garden centres and landscape gardeners. 

On arrival at reception one notices a very busy environment but is straightaway met with a glowing welcome and friendliness of the staff within a homely atmosphere. There are 70 volunteers on the register with approximately 40 attending each day working in a wide variety of relevant tasks. Understandably there is a waiting list of volunteers to this very popular activity. Initially the volunteer discusses their key goals and objectives and a plan agreed which is reviewed and revised at intervals when appropriate.

 Normally when first starting to attend they join for from one to three days per week but this is entirely dependent upon individual needs and aspirations. Volunteers initially attend for a trial period of between four and six weeks as appropriate. After this they will discuss their situation to whether they wish, or are able, to continue attending. These work to guidelines produced by the nursery to provide therapeutic horticultural work in a supportive and pressure-free environment. Working promotes a sense of worth and self-esteem, helps dispel boredom and loneliness and thus enhances mental well-being. 

The volunteers have together established the nursery and they are very proud of it. For a section of the community with few choices or opportunities in their lives it means a very great deal to feel needed and cared for and to be able to develop confidence, concentration and dignity through having a purposeful occupation. The volunteers are not paid, but feel this is unimportant compared with the job satisfaction and work experience they gain. However, there are five full-time staff and three part-time staff. 

There is very little funding available. Therefore the project is dependent upon raising its own funds either by donations or the selling of the plants. It is currently producing 80,000 shrubs annually in several greenhouses, the largest being 3,600 square feet, six large poly-tunnels and two small ones. The turnover exceeds £100,000. The five acre nursery is immaculate with a large proportion laid out to display the plants. An impressive range of shrubs is arranged according to species, clearly labelled and set on black sheeting, or gravel, between neat paving-slab walkways. 

Dealing with hardy shrubs is ideal as it provides work the whole year round. They are easy to propagate from cuttings and will keep from season to season. A new heated bench has been added to the range to encourage more effective rooting in modular trays keeping losses down to a minimum. Each person has a specific job to do which is allocated at the start of the day during discussions at coffee time whether it be putting compost into pots, plants into containers or heating beds. Outings are arranged to different growers to enable the volunteers to gain knowledge from other nurseries to enhance the scope of their nursery. 

One new activity is the introduction of the propagation of grasses. Another very popular innovation is the annual Potathon which is held for two days in May and is designed to replace the depleted stock of plants for sale. The competition between teams and individuals in potting over 25,000 plants into two litre pots is very intense but fun.

To the visitor one can only be the more enriched following a visit. One feels equal to the statement of one of the founders as said to the Nursery Manager on arrival at the gate, 'remember, - people have to go out of this gate happier than when they came in'. I can assure you that I certainly left this nursery filled with pride for the staff and volunteers with whom I met. Even the three legged cat was totally happy and at home in this safe and secure environment of well-being and hospitality.