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— James's story
What inspired your interest in gardening?
Growing up with parents passionate about gardening and supporting the community, it was almost inevitable that I followed in their footsteps. I have worked in people-focused horticulture all my working life.
Over the years I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to work with a range of people. This includes those with special educational needs, dementia, epilepsy, elderly people, those with varying complex mental and physical health issues as well as the general public. I have seen the positive impact that being in and learning about gardening and green environments can have on everyone. This includes on my own mental health.
Can you tell us about some of the projects you've worked on?
My career began working for two different charities. I worked with Nugent Care on the St Thomas More site. This was a 10-acre site in Ainsdale that included care homes, community housing plus community and local business use.
I have seen the positive impact that being in and learning about gardening and green environments can have on everyone. This includes on my own mental health.
James
I maintained the ornamental gardens of the site and also worked on the ‘Polytunnel’ project. This project was designed to help people with mental health needs. We grew bedding plants for the grounds and to sell to the public, which helped generate income for client holidays. The polytunnel offered a quiet, safe space for clients living in communal spaces, giving them a chance to escape their situation for a while. They also had the chance to interact with the general public in a space where they were treated as equals. They were viewed as people with a shared passion for gardening and plants, not as someone with a mental health problem.
A flowering border in the garden of a care home James helped maintain
In 2010 I began work at The Haven, part of Parkhaven Trust. The site was spread over 4 acres, and we were lucky enough to have greenhouses, polytunnels, an orchard with 82 fruit trees, raised beds, willow sculptures and much more. We were able to work with a broad range of clients, with our main demographic being those living with dementia. We also delivered horticultural therapy within the charity's care homes and day centres.
A large willow arch in the grounds of The Haven
We operated ‘The Keep Gardening Project.’ This aimed to enable local people with dementia to maintain their own garden. This proved to be an incredibly powerful thing. An average session in someone’s garden might involve mowing and edging the lawn, deadheading, weeding and of course a cup of tea and a chat. These visits left the garden looking well-maintained, but also gave the individual a chance to feel in control of their lives and home.
We also carried out other tasks for people at their gardens. One of my favourites was creating a plan of the garden, describing the plants that had been gifted to them by friends, ones planted in memory and plants that marked anniversaries or births. Often, individuals could recall huge amounts of information and felt more connected to their garden – if only for a short period of time.
During these sessions we were often able to help support the client’s carer too. Our visit gave them time to pop out to do errands, look after themselves or just talk through the often difficult position they find themselves in. This shows how horticultural therapy can impact not only the person receiving, but their carers and family members too.
This shows how horticultural therapy can impact not only the person receiving, but their carers and family members too.
James
Although women have a greater risk of developing dementia during their lifetime, according to The Alzheimer’s Society, we often found ourselves working with men in their gardens. This was never a deliberate intention, but we observed that while women often [not always] seemed happier to participate in group / social activities, particularly in care homes, men seemed to find these unsuitable. They often sought out more physical and outdoor activities.
How did you come across Thrive?
I was lucky able to connect with other charities and groups while working with Nugent Care. This was when I first came across Thrive. What struck me most was that gardening can be a fairly lonely pastime. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you are the only person doing something, which can feel very isolating. Thrive seemed the perfect centralised charity to bring individuals and smaller groups / charities together. I felt it was a way to share best practice, research and information, but also giving people a sense of community and a shared passion.
I found that I was able to offer a better experience for the clients using the grounds as a result [of taking Thrive courses]. I could also show the Senior Management the scientific basis for the work we were doing.
James
I tried to use as much of the information I came across through Thrive in the work that I did. I also attended several of the fantastic training courses that Thrive offered. I found that I was able to offer a better experience for the clients using the grounds as a result. I could also show the Senior Management the scientific basis for the work we were doing.
What are you currently working on?
I now work for myself. This has allowed me to broaden the range of work I carry out. I was approached by a local hospital to design a garden of remembrance for those who have gone through the pain of losing a baby. This became ‘The Angel Garden.’ It's a place where parents, carers and staff can find a peaceful, calm, and secluded retreat.
Opening day at the new Dementia and Delirium garden designed by James
From the success of this project, I was approached by the Dementia and Delirium Team at another local hospital to design a unique dementia friendly garden in one of the sites' quadrangles. My previous work helped inform the key design features and planting. This garden was opened with great success in the summer of 2022.
What advice would you offer anyone who may want to use gardening to support their wellbeing?
In the time I have been gardening, I have seen that it is often taking the first step of starting or getting back into gardening that is hardest. People get overwhelmed or think that they can’t do it. For me, the key is to try and grow things that you either love to see flower or something that you love to eat.
Most importantly, just have a go. Plants want to grow. You only have to give them some time, love and water and they will thrive!
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