Blooming Well programme is a horticultural haven for cancer patients
Blooming Well’s Sheepstor base, on Dartmoor, is celebrating a year full of tending and growing. The therapeutic horticulture programme, designed to support cancer patients in their recovery, is delivered free to participants as part of the Mustard Tree’s personalised care in cancer provision.
Facilitated by Project Coordinator, Annie Charles and Mustard Tree volunteer, Nick Demeranville, 6 programmes have run with 31 participants – all with very different levels of gardening knowledge. The free, weekly sessions “give people the chance to meet with others going through similar challenges and participants seem to really appreciate this. It also provides a valuable space where they can talk about something other than cancer,” says Annie.
The initiative is growing in scope, winning a University of Plymouth ‘Get Involved’ Award in May 2022 and starting a collaborative research project with Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Alison Warren and her colleagues at the Faculty of Health. February 2023 saw 25 Occupational Therapy students volunteering with the team, getting a chance to meet and talk with participants about their ‘Blooming Well’ experiences.
“The benefits of gardening are now well-established,” explains Annie Charles. “It improves physical activity levels, lifts mood, boosts self-confidence, improves a sense of wellbeing, helps re-focus attention when overwhelmed and decreases levels of stress and anxiety. However, there is very little evidence about the benefits to cancer patients, so this seemed a unique opportunity to find out more.”
The award financed the purchase of tools, raised beds and other equipment. It also helped fund transport for participants unable to travel independently to the Dartmoor site. “We’ve had many generous donations from participants and their families, keen gardeners and local Sheepstor residents, including seeds, equipment, books, offers of help, as well as a discretionary grant from Plymouth City Council.” The success of the programme’s first year means that Macmillan Cancer Support has pledged to fund Annie’s Award in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture. Annie and the research team have been invited to present a poster at the Macmillan Professionals Conference in Glasgow later this year.
Bloomin Well reaches a diverse range of ages: “from some in their mid twenties up to over 80 years’ says Annie. “We like to encompass the wider therapeutic aspects of gardening, being physically active, eating healthily, the value of just being in nature and mindfulness.”
Many of the participants continue to feel the benefits even after the programme ends. “I still feel a warm, happy, glow when I think of everyone, the garden, the setting and the generosity of the people who allowed it to happen,” said one. “You went above and beyond in everything you did for me. From advice on my own plants at home to giving me someone to confide on at the most difficult of times. Thank you. I will be forever grateful”, said another.
Marjorie, another participant who is recovering from chemotherapy and radiotherapy, adds: “I have very dear memories of those few weeks. Being with like-minded people who are also experiencing similar health problems is really helpful. The garden is in the most calming place and to be able to plant seeds, take cuttings and be given plants to take home is really confidence boosting. Nature is a great calmer and healer.”
Volunteering has been an important part of developing what Blooming Well can offer and one of the most exciting developments this year is the new polytunnel. Volunteers from building firm Tilbury Douglas donated labour, cleared the site, and installed the polytunnel itself, as well as constructing work benches. Project Manager for Tilbury Douglas, Adrian Izod, says, “We enjoy giving back to communities and charities where we have projects. As a company we are encouraged to make a difference however small. The polytunnel means that participants can start a small nursery, develop plants from seeds, grow tomatoes and other salad vegetables to assist in their recovery.”
The project has already expanded to an additional site at the Horticultural Therapy Trust’s Penlee Valley allotment in Plymouth. Annie has planned what will be needed to make the site welcoming and accessible to all. “We will need chairs, work benches and in time to create raised beds for easier cultivation,” she explains. Blooming Well’s first year has seen fantastic growth, with a total of 5 programmes planned for this year and the Plymouth site welcoming its first crop of prospective gardeners in May, next year is set to flourish.
To find out more, please contact the Mustard Tree on 01752 430060, or go their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095240948165
