Alive has been running social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) sessions in care homes and community gardens across Bristol for over a decade.
Mixing gardening and green craft activities and with a strong focus on the social side of STH, we’ve witnessed first-hand the profound difference it can make to people’s lives.
All our sessions are dementia-friendly, with many tailored specifically for people living with dementia and older people.
Read on for an overview of all our gardening opportunities, and please contact us using the info at the foot of this page if you have further questions.
Community Gardening Sessions & Projects
Dementia-Friendly Allotments
Alive has two dementia-friendly allotments: one at Charlton Road Allotments in Brentry, North Bristol and most recently at Talbot Road Allotments in Brislington, South Bristol. We run therapeutic horticulture sessions there all year round for older people and people in the community living with dementia, as well as an intergenerational session for kids and older people.
Find out more here.
Wellspring Settlement
The Wellspring Settlement community garden sessions are open to anyone living in Barton Hill and the surrounding area. They are suitable for adults of any age, ability and background.
Find out more here.
Hospital Gardens at BRI and Weston General
Partnering with Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, we helped transform the BRI’s Sanctuary Square into a dementia-friendly green space for patients and their families, offering weekly sessions of green crafts and gardening. Following its success in Bristol, this initiative has also now rolled out in the Rainbow Garden at Weston General.
Find out more here.
The Hoppiness Project
A series of sessions in care homes which gently explore drinking culture with residents and engage people in gardening, green crafts, reminiscence, sensory play, singing and other therapeutic activities. This collaboration with the University of Bristol’s Brigstow Institute has garnered attention from the BBC and The Guardian, challenging preconceptions about dementia and care homes and emphasising the importance of meaningful activity for those diagnosed with dementia.
Find out more here.
Lawrence Hill Health Centre
Working with Lawrence Hill Health Centre to provide therapeutic horticulture and green crafts to those living in the community.
Sessions for Care Settings
Alive welcomes visits to our purpose-built, award-winning, dementia-friendly allotment in North Bristol from care homes.
Find out more here.
Helping You: Setting Up Community and Dementia-friendly Gardening
Alive can also help you set up and run a community garden or gardening sessions at your care or community setting.
Our experienced facilitators can help you plan your garden and facilitate activities for your participants throughout the year.
Get in touch to find out more.
Supporting Our Community Gardening
From dementia-friendly allotments to communal spaces and hospital gardens, our gardening work relies on generous support from our community.
Discover ways to support us here.
Volunteering
We always seek volunteers to support our Community Gardening and other work. If you want to help us through volunteering, find out more here.
Community Gardening Newsletter
The Community Gardening team sends out occasional newsletters; subscribe here.
To find out more about any of our Community Gardening Sessions & Projects, please call our office on 07861 385 543 or email communitygardening@aliveactivities.org.