Heartwood, over 2023, has piloted a group for adults with mental health difficulties. This has been in collaboration with the Derbyshire Dales Community Mental Health Trust and was funded by The National Lottery's Awards for All.
This project saw us welcoming a group of local people to the farm, weekly, through the summer. During the time we were together we had a programme of land based and craft activities to build connection and confidence with the natural world and with others. The NHS Occupational Therapists provided excellent psychoeducation around developing self confidence which complemented the farm based activities.
''The course taught me that I can regularly attend something even when I don’t feel great and I often felt better after the group than before. It gave me the confidence that I can be consistent''
Here is some feedback from participants.
‘'I will be more open to change’'
‘'Wonderful people, both staff and group alike as well as an amazing landscape with lots of wildlife’'
In the feedback process participants were asked to give three words
that summed up their time with us. These are expressed in this leaf.
We will be running this programme again over 2024 with the kind support of MIND and Derbyshire County Council and we hope to be able to offer continuing therapeutic horticulture opportunities over the next two growing seasons.
