Our Therapeutic Gardening days have been designed to help people of all ages notice their emotional state and select activities which will help them self-regulate. They incorporate creative problem solving, which supports good decision making and self-management. Participants will learn practical farming and gardening skills as well as build their knowledge around the natural environment.
The overall aim is to increase participants’s wellbeing and for younger participants to equip them for managing current challenges as well as their next stage of life.
We aim to deliver sessions from Autumn 2026 to two groups:
- Young adults between the age of 16-25 who face various life challenges, such as issues at school, those leaving care, or those suffering poor mental health and those transitioning into employment
- Other adults of any age that are struggling with their mental health due to factors including loneliness and depression or recent issues with addictions.
Facilities
We have a Casa de Povo that we use for chilling out or group sessions, we have a Casa de Agua that includes a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, two showers and a flush toilet.
What to expect
Sessions are planned to run every week and you will be supported to learn new skills, build confidence and strengthen your relationship with the natural world, other people and yourself.
- Arrive. Greetings, reminders, updates or news.
- Notice me. How am I feeling in my mind? How am I feeling in my body? Make a note in individual journals. This will be personal reflection rather than open sharing.
- Notice the farm. Wander around, pay attention, then come together and share what has changed since the last session and what we can see, smell, feel, hear and taste. Make a note in individual journals, share in discussion if comfortable.
- Set an intention. What would I like to gain from today’s session? Make a note in individual journal.
- Session content. (about 2 hours including a break) Tasks vary depending on the season, weather etc. We take breaks as well as work.
- Notice the farm. Wander around again, pay attention, then come together and share what has changed since we arrived and what we can see, smell, feel, hear and taste. Make a note in individual journals.
- Notice me. How am I feeling in my mind? How am I feeling in my body? Have I gained what I hoped to? Make a note in individual journals. This will be personal reflection with an option for open sharing.
All gardening equipment, tools, seeds, plants and materials will be provided, although gardeners may wish to bring their own gardening gloves if they have them, rather than wearing the gloves we have available.
You are free to bring your own lunch and snacks but, upon arrangement, a vegan lunch will be provided to all participants. There will be fruit and snacks available for breaks as well as teas and coffee.
Gardeners will need to bring:
- A pair of shoes or boots you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Clothes which you don’t mind getting dirty and which will be warm, cool or waterproof depending on the time of year and the weather forecast.
- A hat for cold/rain/sun, and suncream too if you use it.
Back to my roots 