12 months in pictures 2021 – Another year like no other.

December 31, 2021

Horticultural Therapy at DMRC Stanford Hall has continued throughout this extraordinary year of lockdowns, restrictions, testing and more – Mother Nature doesn’t know there is still a pandemic raging..!

Winning a Gold Medal at Gardeners’ World Live was a highlight of the year and made all the planning and the work behind the scenes worthwhile.

We are so grateful to all the patients and staff at Stanford Hall for all their help and to our wonderful team of supporters including Vitax, Ready Hedge, Miles Nurseries, Green Mile Trees Middleton Nurseries, Darlac and Mr Fothergills without whom Make Do and Mend would never have become a reality.

We also thank British Sugar Topsoil for their generous and continued support and our funders the Swire Foundation, Barratt Plc, Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, The Worshipful Company of Grocers, ABF the Soldiers’ Charity, Finnis Scott Foundation, D’Oyly Carte Trust, the Headley Court Charity and the Worshipful Company of Drapers.

Here’s some feedback that we’ve had during the year at Stanford Hall.

I thought it was crazy as I was in a wheelchair and arm sling and thought how on earth can I garden. Little did I know it would be the most important part in my recovery. Patient.

It’s so nice to touch, feel and smell everything and to take things home to nourish and love. Patient.

It allowed me the opportunity to move outside of my comfort zone and talk to a stranger. Patient.

I really enjoyed the staff well-being session. It gave me chance to have time out for myself in a relaxed environment and was so informative. Staff member.

Next year we hope that you will all be able to come and visit us and until then, we send you our thanks and best wishes,

Anna Baker Cresswell.
Founder and Executive Director, HighGround.

JANUARY; (Left) Greenhouse in the snow. (Right) Winter rose cuttings session.

FEBRUARY; (Left) Iris bulbs grown in the greenhouse. (Right) Seeds from Easton walled garden.

MARCH; (Left) Andy and Jane with Thrive course certificates. (Right) Watering Sweet Peas from Easton walled garden.

APRIL; (Left) Pansies in planters. (Right) Spring Tulips in bloom.

MAY; (Left) Flags out for our first farm shop of 2021. (Right) Greenhouse full of propagated plants for the farm shop.

JUNE; (Left) Patient made plant shelves. (Right) Preparing to start building on the Village Green.

JULY; (Left) Delighted to welcome volunteer Sasha back. (Right) Beautifully scented Easton sweetpeas.

AUGUST; (Left) DMRC come to Gardener’s World Live at the NEC. (Right) Adam Frost filming on Make Do and Mend, our Beautiful Border entry.

SEPTEMBER; (Left) Set up for a session taking scented Pelagonium cuttings. (Right) Gourds grown in the Pears Walled Garden.

OCTOBER; (Left) Patients creative pumpkin carving. (Right) Sarah Raven Course – Bee on Dhalia.

NOVEMBER; (Left) Colour in DMRC’s grounds. (Right) Remembrance.

DECEMBER; (Left) Patient constructing table top Christmas tree. (Right) Jane preparing a Christmas craft session.

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