Therapeutic Horticulture

SUMMARY OF THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE PROJECT 2008

Therapeutic horticulture
Martineau Gardens form a therapeutic environment of over two acres of organically maintained land, two miles from the City Centre. The Gardens include a substantial wildlife area, formal gardens, a vegetable plot, an orchard and herb beds. Metamorphosis has been looking after the site with a wide range of volunteers since 1997. The volunteers look after the Gardens for the benefit and pleasure of the people of Birmingham.

We have established a friendly, respectful culture where the volunteers support and encourage one another. Gardening together provides an opportunity for talking and listening to other people. Working with the natural cycles of sowing, nurturing, harvesting and surviving the winter can help vulnerable people to learn from experience that they can help things to grow, and eat the result in some cases. They also learn from the fact that sometimes things don't work out, but next year you can try again.

The volunteers:
Metamorphosis at the Martineau Gardens provides a unique therapeutic horticulture service to people from all over the city. Because of our location, in 2006, 59% of our volunteers were from south Birmingham.

Our service is socially inclusive in that we welcome a wide range of volunteers who work together, looking after the Gardens. Our regular volunteers have included people with the following disabilities or support needs:
1. Mental health issues
2. Recovering from addictions
3. Older people
4. Learning disabilities
5. Autistic spectrum / Asperger's
6. Physical disabilities
Staff work with the mix of people so that everyone is contributing to the best of their ability, and learning about plants, the environment and each other. Some of our volunteers are people who 'just want to do something else on my day off' or are currently unemployed or getting work experience with us.

The effect on independence and inclusion
Volunteers have the opportunity to mix with other people, to join in purposeful activities, and improve their physical fitness and emotional resilience. Our volunteers usually move on into work, training or other volunteering activities. On site, we have a Pottery Studio run by Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust which allows for our volunteers and the pottery students to explore other possibilities and meet other people.

At the Gardens, volunteers are offered:
1. Opportunities for voluntary work (gardening, conservation etc.)
2. Opportunities for physical exercise
3. Routes and opportunities for arts and crafts activities
4. Routes to education, training and paid work

Using 'Social accounting', we are exploring ways of measuring the impact that volunteering has on their lives. We believe that it has a beneficial impact on their social inclusion.

Our volunteers are able to develop skills, in both practical horticulture and their interpersonal relationships while volunteering at the Gardens. Volunteering in a Garden is seen as the kind of socially acceptable activity that anyone can do. As the range of people is wide, most people with mental health issues tend to 'normalise' their behaviour. Most volunteers attend independently, some are accompanied on their first few visits, and some are brought and collected by family or support workers. Volunteers have a choice in how much they work alongside other people, or by themselves.

The volunteers can attend monthly meetings to discuss their concerns and their ideas for the Gardens.

The staff
The Therapeutic Horticulture work is led by Stewart Holmes, who has a Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture from Coventry University. He organises the work of the Gardens as well as leading the volunteers in activities.

Rachael Lance works with women volunteers one day a week, to help re-balance the lower proportion of women volunteers that we currently have.

Referrals
Our volunteers find us for themselves, or are referred by: Adullam Homes, Aquarius, Autism West Midlands, BSMHT, Biscom, BTCV, Connexions, Dementia Service, Disability Resource Centre, Focus Futures, HOB Homeless Team, Mencap, Mind, Moseley CDT, Moseley & District Housing, QAC, Rathbone Garden Centre, Rethink, SIFA, Trident Housing, Turning Point and the Volunteer Centre (BVSC).

We ask the referrer to make a judgement as to whether the volunteer is a danger to themselves, other people or the Gardens. In such cases we ask the referrer to provide staff to accompany the volunteer.

Download our 2007 report on Therapeutic horticulture

The quotes below are taken from Volunteers in Spring 2007;

Trevor "I am currently unemployed, but had I known Martineau Gardens was available, I would have used my sixteen hours per week here.  This has structured my day and I now have something to get up for.  I have learned a new skill of landscape gardening and biodiversity.  This has not only enriched my life but now I can pass on the knowledge to the community and spread the word that a wonderful place such as this exists.  Here you can have a private moment to express your happiness."

Malcolm "This is different from other places.  I’m an outdoors person and here is in tune with my personality.  Volunteering here is a stepping stone, it stimulates my brain.  I’m being encouraged to help the environment, which I find very therapeutic.  It’s very special, being here with like-minded people.

Peter "I learned about gardening from the staff at Rathbone Garden Centre and Martineau Gardens.  I found it really easy to talk to people here, especially Stewart.  I have a full time job now, but I still come here for inspiration and guidance.  Being at Martineau Gardens go me through a brief spell in my life when I was a troubled teen."

Steven "I am lucky to have been referred to Martineau Gardens.  The therapeutic horticulture here keeps people well, who might otherwise get ill.  It’s an invaluable service for vulnerable people, who need somewhere to go.  I’ve had a wonderful time here and have been given lots of responsibility."

Stephen R "Being here gets me out of the house and helps me to put my troubles to the back of my mind.  I’m accepted for who I am and as I learn to communicate more clearly, I can socialise and make friends more easily than I could at school and college.  I can learn at my own pace and I’m taking on responsibilities in the gardens, like feeding the birds every day.  I like growing crops and now I have my own allotment to look after." 

Emma "I really enjoy being at Martineau Gardens.  I find the gardening very therapeutic and relaxing.  I like meeting other people here.  It’s like a retreat here, away from the busyness of City life."

Stuart "Thanks to Martineau Gardens, I have been able to boost my confidence and get a job.  Even though I work now, I still come down to volunteer because it helps me relax after a hard day’s work."

Jane "I liked raking the soil and sowing the seeds outside.  I helped paint pots for ‘Toad Town’ and liked making the bird boxes best of all."

Sue "I love the buildings being made of wood, and I like the wild part the most.  I didn’t feel easy around people, so hid whenever they arrived.  .  I’m just coming round to believing that people aren’t all bad, there are the sorts who want to heal, not hurt.  Now it’s got easier, in fact I’ve become very interested in anything that grows.  For the first time I’ve made a garden how I want it to be.  I’m forever potting and planting herbs."

Stephen C "I enjoy the challenges that volunteering at Martineau Gardens offer.  Talking with a wide range of other people has been useful as I have some history of difficulty with social interaction. The Gardens are very diverse in lots of ways and I like having a reason to be in leafy Edgbaston.  I now have a more open mind on organic foods."

Jean "Coming out of a bout of depression, volunteering at Martineau took a lot of courage but it has proved to have been worth it, time and time again.  I was made to feel welcome and useful from the very beginning. I have met some great people and have never heard anyone put down, dismissed or judged unfairly, by anyone at the Gardens. This is great testament to the staff, who lead by example. I have developed my interest in natural history and that is a great pleasure to me. There is plenty to learn, yet the motto might be ‘purpose without pressure’.  I am now feeling much more confident in myself and relaxed amongst people. The world is no longer quite the scary place it once seemed and I feel that I have a part to play in it. Best of all though Martineau is a wonderful place to be.  It is beautiful, peaceful, interesting, welcoming and funny!  Long may it remain so, for everyone who needs it."