It’s full steam ahead as the greenhouse is ready to receive patients

May 31, 2019

We have now been granted permission to let patients in the greenhouse for Horticultural Therapy sessions although the mainly good weather has meant most of our sessions have been outside but still, it’s a turning point. The planters around the Village Green are now full of an assortment of vegetables at different stages of growth and we have been able to have our first Farm Shop with the surplus plants. We are intending to have many more…

WoodBloX

The raised beds behind the greenhouse are almost finished thanks to Andy and the sterling efforts of two of our patients. We just need to finish filling them up with our donated topsoil from British Sugar. The pergola from Headley Court has been fitted over one of the seated areas inbetween the raised beds, and the grapevine has been planted. We have also planted an apple tree from Headley Court in the central bed underplanted with beans and marigolds. We are hoping to graft different variety of apple onto it annually, to make a family tree.

Neuro Group

The Neuro group has been very busy this month and now we are able to use the walled garden. We planted one of the raised beds with pumpkins, squashes and courgettes and added some tomatoes to one of the herb beds. The Hortus Loci rose bed has started to bloom and should be a riot of colour over the coming weeks. The herbaceous perennial bed has now been planted with a mixture of plants from Headley Court, plants grown from seed at Stanford Hall, and plants kindly donated by J.Parker Dutch Bulbs Wholesale Ltd, .

Apothecary plant research

The apothecary plant bed now has camomile, lavender, dill, sage and lemon balm, some grown from the Chelsea Physic Garden seed and some taken from cuttings from Headley Court. We have more seedlings currently growing in the greenhouse and will be using the plant information researched by patients to eventually make signs for the plants.

Gardening Volunteers

We have two Gardening Volunteers currently on their second week who are each kindly giving up four hours of their every week. We are really looking forward to welcoming a third Gardening Volunteer in July.

This month we have made several hanging baskets with patients and planted up containers in front of the greenhouse. We are going to hang four of the baskets from the pergola. This seems to have been a popular activity, and has provided a few more flowers to brighten the area as Spring turns into Summer.

Greenhouse bursting at the seams.

Our first farm shop customers.

Raised Beds are filling up.

Hanging baskets made by patients.

Squash and pumpkins planted up by Neuro Patients.

SHARE THIS POST