Since last we spoke, Bristol has been hit by its first frosts of the year and some quite lairy winds, forcing our growing spaces to hunker down for some rest. We, on the other hand, and those who come to our sessions, certainly haven’t been doing the same.
Read on for some of our autumn highlights – we’ve been busy!
Wellspring Settlement
The Wellspring Settlement gardening group recently welcomed the new Gardening for Health worker to her first session. Harriet will be with us now every week, helping us with session delivery.
We’ve already enjoyed collaborating on community bulb planting around the centre and a bug hotels workshop.
We’ll be heading out locally foraging materials to make wreaths soon – then returning to base to get creative.
North Bristol Dementia-friendly Allotment
Session sizes have been a roller-coaster over autumn. In the middle of November, we had our busiest session of the year, with 26 people joining us. The less busy sessions have been a welcome chance to reflect on the season and make plans for 2025.
Our volunteers continue to make Brentry the success it is by instilling a sense of community through a warm welcome to all, so an especially heartfelt end-of-year thank you to all of them.
BRI Sessions
With the support of donations from the public and involvement from UHBW volunteers, we have managed to replant the living wall in Sanctuary Square, where we deliver our BRI sessions.
We’ve also been at UK Dementia Congress 24 to share learning and inspiration from the project. We hope it will encourage others to bring gardening to patients with dementia in acute hospitals.
South Bristol Dementia-friendly Allotment
The Talbot Road site has grown some bumper crops this autumn and has become home to a thriving wildlife community.
We have loved engaging with the allotment community and supporting our participants with our wonderful volunteers who have helped make the space so bountiful and healing.
Hoppiness Project
The Hoppiness Project culminated in two beautiful sessions celebrating our collective endeavour with parties. We spent the sessions crafting hop-themed bunting together (because whoever heard of a party without bunting?). Then, we sampled some of the beer our hops helped make. Except for one woman who was adamant, “It’s not as good as Northern beer,” it was a resounding hit!
ICYMI, a team from The Guardian visited one of our Hoppiness sessions in September, producing a short film they published on social media. Check it out on Instagram or TikTok.
Laurence Hill Health Centre
The incredible wildlife garden at LHHC featured in the Trinity Arts Nature in Newtown series, showcasing how local older people benefit from the beautiful plants and abundance of biodiversity onsite. Check out this inspiring video showcasing the project.
As well as weekly green craft activities and further improving the space for the local wildlife, we’ve also been working hard developing the terrace for the wellbeing of NHS staff.
Weston General Hospital
Our latest opening! Following the success of our work at BRI, we’re excited to announce that we’ve now launched dementia-friendly weekly gardening sessions at WGH as well.
Thanks to help from wonderful volunteers and hospital staff, our work here is already proving to be hugely impactful for patients.
Our initial focus was beautifying the Rainbow Garden, a staff wellbeing sanctuary. We are now delivering sessions indoors to keep patients warm over winter.