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Headley Court encourages you to ‘Get out in your gardens’

May 23, 2017

HEADLEY COURT ENCOURAGES YOU TO “GET OUT IN YOUR GARDENS”

Carol, HighGround’s Horticultural Therapist, and a few of her patients worked on the Miracle-Gro ‘Come to your Senses‘ gardens which won Gold and ‘Best Discovery Exhibit’ award at the 2017 Chelsea Flower Show. Read what some of the patients had to say about their time at Headley Court and their experiences.

‘Whilst undergoing my rehabilitation programme at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Headley Court, I have found the therapeutic interaction with plants, vegetables, and the smells of the greenhouse, a calming influence. They have created an atmosphere which has allowed me to think things through, in a stress-free environment ideal to enjoy and interact with my fellow patients.

 

My future plans, which are based upon the experience I have gained through my horticultural therapy at Headley Court, are to purchase a plot of land, where I can design my own garden with an eco-friendly house, using as much recycled material as I can find.’

Sgt Troy Reynolds – Royal Engineers – Chelsea Planting Team

Headley Court

Troy at Chelsea

 

Working in an environment that does not look back but keeps on pushing the boundaries of pressure, intensity, and workload a military working person is now a machine. For me, that fast pace of life came to a very abrupt stop when one evening, when I was out on patrol with the Royal Marines commandos, I was shot 6 times. It was only with the skills and medical knowledge that was around at that time that I’m here today.

After a number of operations and rehabilitations session at Headley Court, I came across HighGround. HighGround provides horticultural therapy to injured military personal giving us the chance to see into the land based industry. It helped me slow down to a pace of life that now worked for me because of the wheelchair and then crutches of course, which was difficult to deal with at first because I was still in that military pace of life. I asked about HighGround and the work they do at Headley court and I’m so glad I did because it has given me the ability to appreciate the outside environment. As time moved on my physical limitations started to get easier as horticultural allowed me to work at

I asked about HighGround and the work they do at Headley court and I’m so glad I did because it has given me the ability to appreciate the outside environment. As time moved on my physical limitations started to get easier as horticultural therapy allowed me to work at my own pace. It’s not only the physical side that benefits but psychological wellbeing seeing your work grow with time really motivated me to start growing my own vegetables at home, something for me and the family to enjoy.

I would definitely say “get out in your gardens and get dirty because it’s wonderfully relaxing and very rewarding for you and the kids”.’

Corporal James Hill – Royal Marines Commando – Chelsea Planting Team

Headley Court

James at Chelsea
 

 


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