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LIFE BEYOND THE MILITARY – OUTDOORS
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March brings huge disappointment as the pandemic of the coronavirus spreads.

March 31, 2020

COVID-19

The start of March saw us full of promise and plans for the growing season ahead. However, due to the current pandemic, this month has seen dramatic changes for all of us and I certainly did not expect the month to end in this way.

We had initially intended to come onto the Unit two days per week each to look after the plants in the greenhouse and other therapeutic garden areas. However, following recent government advice regarding essential travel we have taken the decision that we need to stay at home.

To this end we have both taken as many plants as we can to grow on at home and re-homed as many of the plants as possible to staff on the Unit. The Grounds Team are going to continue to maintain our areas for as long as they can, but are likely to also need to stay at home in the foreseeable future.

We had started seed sowing and pricking out seedlings with a vengeance with our patients so there were a lot of plants to re-home. We are very disappointed that we can’t continue with what was due to be a very busy season with our Spring and Summer events, arrival of the chickens, farm shops and Gardeners World Live border garden. But we need to be safe and rebuild when we return.

In the meantime, we will be posting pictures on our social media of the plants we have taken to grow and asked staff who have taken plants to do the same. Andy is going to do some short gardening videos to share with our followers. I will be developing resources to use with our patients when we return.

https://www.facebook.com/highgrounduk

@highgroundatstanfordhall.andy

Gardening Volunteers

We welcomed our three Gardening Volunteers recruited last year back at the beginning of the month, and have welcomed two new Gardening Volunteers who had just began their trial sessions with us. We look forward to the time when we can all work as a team again and value the support they provide.   

Donations of supplies

Earlier in the month we had a donation of one hundred bags of compost and are expecting another delivery later in the year thanks to the generosity of Vitax. This will be a great help to keep us going when we return to work. The Managing Director of Vitax visited us and so was able to see first-hand how this will support the work we do. For more information about how Vitax are supporting HighGround click here to read some news articles on their website.

We also received a welcome donation of seeds from Mr Fothergills, and had started using a lot of the seeds but thankfully will still have plenty left to use when we can get back in our greenhouse.

Auto Pot donated a sample of their self-watering system following a visit earlier in March and we had intended to use these for some of our tomatoes in the greenhouse but again these donations, gratefully received, will be so useful later in the season.

We will do our best to continue to bring you some positive news and updates over the next month. Until then from all at HighGround take care and stay safe.

 

Vitax and Soldiers' Charity visit.

One of our wonderful Gardeing Volunteers.

Vitax compost donation.

Emptying the greenhouse.