We were delighted to host our first farm shop of the year this October as well as working on a new project that can benefit patients physically, cognitively and psychologically.

October 31, 2020

October has seen us cutting back plants in the perennial bed in the walled garden and lifting the last of the beans, squashes, and courgettes. The succulent cuttings taken over the last few weeks have had almost a 100% success rate providing lots of new plants for our pallet planters and new project of broken pot planters. We have taken the last of the semi-ripe herb and pelargonium cuttings and divided houseplants for display in the greenhouse.

Farm Shop

October saw us host our first Farm Shop of the year which was well attended by staff. We sold all the pumpkins we grew together with the chilli strings and made a good dent into the homegrown herbs. We met the new Commanding Officer Group Captain Rowley, who came to visit us giving us opportunity to talk about the benefits of Horticultural Therapy.

Broken pot planters

This has been a great project for a range of patients from both Complex Trauma and Neuro. It is a useful idea for recycling broken pots which we hope to incorporate into our border garden entry at Gardeners World Live next year. Building a new planter using the broken parts of a pot to create planting pockets for succulents, herbs and alpines has a variety of benefits therapeutically. Physically it is helpful for working on hand function, manual dexterity, and if done in standing, balance and standing tolerance. Cognitively it requires concentration, ability to problem solve and sequence. Psychologically it is a useful activity to practice mindfulness, improve confidence and self-esteem with a tangible and visual end-result. This is an activity which can easily be replicated at home as a leisure interest. For those interested in developing plant knowledge it provides an opportunity to learn about propagation and maintenance of succulents, herbs and alpines be it for personal interest or as an avenue to explore vocationally. The weeks ahead will see us moving towards seasonal crafts from wreaths to pallet planters and plant hangers.

HighGround adheres to the latest government and Unit policy in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

First farm shop.

Pop up Farm Shop.

Group Captain Rowley visits us.

Jane dividing Streptocarpus.

Streptocarpus and pelargonium cuttings.

Trio of broken pot planters.

Chamomile in bed.

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