Gina works 2 days a week at Headley Court and her arrival means that Carol can now deliver group sessions of Horticultural Therapy to patients referred from all 3 patient groups – Complex Trauma, Force Generation and Neuro which is a big improvement.

These winter months haven’t been the best time to come and visit us at Headley Court but we were delighted to welcome Jim Gardiner and Colin Crosbie from the RHS on a sunny day last week and we really look forward to working more closely with the RHS as a result of their visit.

The Farm Shop is doing really well at the moment. We have had two sales of potted bulbs which went very well indeed, especially after a Mother’s Day prompt. Most of the hens are laying and egg sales are on the up. Funds from the Farm Shop have paid for 10 apple rootstocks and we have grafted a few. I would like to graft some from the existing orchard at Headley Court so they can go to Stanford Hall when we all move.

We have a broody hen and I have threatened her with an old fashioned treatment – dipping her btm in a bucket of cold water! She insists on stealing all the eggs that have been laid, protesting by clucking loudly when they are removed.

The Tweets are very friendly and rush towards us insisting on being picked up and cuddled. The patients really enjoy the contact of a lovely soft hen and looking at the colours of their feathers. The Tweets quite often start falling asleep in the arms of the patients after contented cooing.

I am so lucky to have my new assistant, Gina. She has made an enormous difference to our horticulture area. I no longer need to fret over things not getting done, weeds advancing, seedlings crying out for a new home – Gina the whirlwind spots the most urgent jobs, rolls up her sleeves and gets on with it! Rosie, my other stalwart has also supported me, quietly working away doing all the jobs I never get around to, always smiling and the patients look forward to seeing her. Together, Gina and Rosie make a formidable double act and I am very lucky to have them on my Team.

In January we ran a ‘Networking Event’ at Headley Court. The meeting up was made by all horticulturalists that are in a singleton post. They were given a tour of the horticultural facilities (My Lair) which included tea, coffee and biscuits. We then had the formal part where we introduced ourselves and exchanged views on the therapeutic benefits of the horticultural work we all do. The meeting was a great success and a promise to continue the initiative was made by all.

Up and coming – we will be dedicating an area for soft fruit growing and will be buying a fruit cage courtesy of the Headley Court Benevolent Fund. The harvesting of the fruits will provide new challenges such as crouching, working on fine motor skills when picking the fruit and stretching to reach those out of reach raspberries. Best of all eating the produce, making preserves etc for a real sensory experience too. What is not to like??

On a final note, a patient I have been working with for almost a year is on his final admission to Headley Court. He came to Horticultural Therapy on his very first admission just to find out what it was all about. He was quite badly injured, coping with crutches and non weight bearing on one leg amongst other difficulties. He had been lucky to survive the incident that caused his injuries. He has gradually improved over time, slowly able to weight bear, then just one crutch, next a walking stick and now getting back to running. Horticultural Therapy has played a large part in his recovery. When he was unable to engage in the rigours of the gym or physio, he could carry out practical tasks in the greenhouse and raised beds – even if he did need to lay flat on the lawn to do the weeding! He is now a keen grower of vegetables and all things horticulture at home. I shall miss him very much, but I feel glad to have known this amazing person and so happy that he is well enough to return to his unit and pick up his military life again and HighGround was there when he was most in need.

		Onward. Carol

As our profile and the tempo of our work increases, the need for additional support, primarily in the office is becoming impossible to ignore and we are actively looking for an Executive Assistant to work with us in a voluntary capacity while I raise funds to cover a permanent post to start in early 2016.

The role would suit someone leaving the military who is looking to get into the 3rd Sector and would be 2 days a week for the first 3 months to be reviewed and I expect increased thereafter. We can offer travel expenses and I would welcome any suggestions by e-mail please anna@highground-uk.org

David said: “I am thrilled and honoured to be involved in HighGround. From the moment I heard about its work I was drawn to it. The men and women of our armed services make a huge and selfless contribution to our society and, just as they serve and support us, there are crucial times when we need to serve and support them.”

I was privileged to work closely alongside the armed forces over a long period in Northern Ireland. In providing horticultural therapy at Headley Court to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of injured service personnel, and supporting service men and women to make the often difficult transition to employment in civilian life, HighGround is performing two hugely important tasks.”

It is particularly exciting for me to be joining HighGround when it is still a relatively young organisation and the challenge for me and my fellow Trustees is to do everything we can to help it realise its full potential. I have seen, through my involvement in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games how people’s lives can be changed through sport, volunteering and being given new economic opportunities; to me HighGround has the same inspirational potential. I feel very honoured to be a part of HighGround and the remarkable work it is doing to help our service men and women have a better future.”

Our fundraising can be divided into Headley Court; Rural Weeks; core costs at Horseferry Road and salaries. (click here to download our leaflet). The fact that you are reading this newsletter means you are interested in our work and if you can think of any way you can support us by raising money, do please get in touch – there is much to do...

The Officers Association asked me if I would do a webinar for them to give their members an overview of employment opportunities in the land-based sector. We got some good questions, OA seemed pleased and you can listen to it on You Tube. British Forces Broadcasting also interviewed me (click here to listen) and now the RXW programme has been finalised with Plumpton College, our media and social media activity is on the increase – you can keep up to date by going to our Press Room

Our application to Forces in Mind Trust for funding to support the proposed longditudinal study of HighGround with King’s College London and Aberdeen University has reached Stage 2 – keep everything crossed…

Other Rob, our 2nd wonderful IT volunteer who like our first IT volunteer is also called Rob, is helping us to manage Sharepoint, which will make us all much more efficient – in the end...