From growing their own vegetables to enjoying mindfulness in nature, people receiving mental health support in Essex are benefiting from an allotment project helping them build confidence, learn new skills and connect with others.
The Community Allotment Group, run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s (EPUT) Mid Essex Community Occupational Therapy team, has been transformed thanks to charitable funding.
The weekly group gives people receiving community mental health support opportunities to enjoy gardening, develop friendships and build a sense of achievement in a relaxed, supportive environment.
This week is Occupational Therapy Week, showcasing how occupational therapists enable participation in the activities that matter most, improving health, wellbeing and quality of life through expert support at every stage of life.
New freshly painted raised planting beds, gardening equipment and donated garden furniture have transformed Beeches Road Allotments in Chelmsford into a more welcoming and accessible space. Funded through EPUT Charitable Funds, the improvements have made a particular difference for patients with physical health conditions or reduced mobility, enabling more people to comfortably take part in planting, tending and harvesting produce.
One patient said: “I really enjoy coming to the allotment, it gets me out of the house and gives me a space to talk to people that accept me.”
Patients have also helped paint the raised beds bright yellow, giving them a sense of pride and ownership over the space.
Megan Treadwell, Senior Occupational Therapist at EPUT, said: “The allotment is about so much more than gardening. It’s a place where people can build confidence, make connections and develop skills that support their recovery and everyday independence.
“One of our biggest achievements this year has been making the space more accessible. Previously, some patients struggled to take part because of physical health difficulties, but the new equipment means we can adapt activities to suit their needs.”
Patients have enjoyed a successful growing season, harvesting pumpkins, cucumbers, green beans, beetroot and other produce to take home.
The benefits extend beyond gardening, with patients developing practical life skills such as planning meals, shopping for ingredients and preparing food independently.
One patient shared: “I now grow things at home with mum because I learnt at the group.”
Megan added: “It’s incredibly rewarding when someone takes home something they’ve grown and comes back to tell us what they’ve made with it. We’ve had patients bring in homemade rhubarb jam and share their recipes with others. These might seem like small things, but they represent real progress.”
The funding has also enabled the team to introduce a separate mindfulness and movement group, offering gentle exercise, relaxation and grounding activities outdoors for people who may not be interested in gardening.
The project’s success has also helped inspire a second allotment group at St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon, launched in July, giving more people opportunities to experience the therapeutic benefits of gardening.
Megan said: “Being outdoors in a peaceful, informal environment can make such a difference. Some people find it easier to open up away from a traditional clinical setting.
“Thanks to the charitable funding, we’ve been able to make the allotment more inclusive and extend these opportunities to more people.”
EPUT Charitable Funds supports projects that enhance the experience of patients, families, carers and colleagues beyond what NHS funding can provide.
About EPUT:
- EPUT has a vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care: Who we are – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
- The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
- While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
- Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
- A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
- EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/about-us/2023-2028-strategic-plan/