Are you 55 or over and interested in:

• Improving your health and wellbeing whilst enjoying the outdoors?
• Getting gentle exercise through gardening & food growing?
• Meeting new people, making new friends and chatting over a cup of tea?
• Learning a new skill, or re-discovering old ones?

If yes, why not join our FREE weekly gardening sessions?

All sessions are run in a safe environment by a qualified Therapeutic Garden Practitioner. This is the second year of the project as we decided to continue offering this session. Sessions are weekly, starting Friday 2 June 2023.

Through gentle gardening and sensory nature related activities, these sessions aim to help older people manage their long term or short term health conditions or to improve their physical and mental health wellbeing. Participants can be referred by their local Croydon GP, other organisations or refer themselves.

Whilst it is recommended that participants attend every session to gain greater benefit, we understand that this is not always possible so we welcome people to come along when they can. Participants will be able to choose what they would like to do from a rolling programme of seasonal and purposeful activities from planting and growing bulbs, flowers, vegetables or herbs in one of our many ‘garden rooms’, especially our two herb gardens and raised beds to weeding, hoeing, sowing seeds and watering.

There will be opportunities to learn new skills, and rediscover old interests, be immersed in nature, enjoy being outdoors, and chat to other people. Most activities will require group work but there will be opportunities for one-to one support. There will be opportunities to share memories and ideas, plan ahead and make friendships.

Due to its location, participants will need to be able to walk through the park or use their mobility aid. Wheelchair users are welcomed as we have wider appropriate pathways in each garden room. Participants can be accompanied by a family member, friend ,carer, or support worker to provide additional support. No prior knowledge or experience of gardening is required. We will be responsive to the needs and interests, where possible, of those taking part. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear according to the weather. You may bring your own gardening gloves if you prefer.

There are public toilets near the walled garden, which will be open during the session. They are managed and maintained by the council. Please note, however, that these toilets are not wheelchair accessible.

There is a cafe close to the garden where refreshments can be bought but we advise that participants bring a bottle of water, sun cream and hat.

These sessions are funded by the Local Voluntary Partnership One Croydon Alliance. All attendees will have to register by completing a simple registration form when attending their first session. All personal information supplied on this form is strictly confidential and will be used for administration purposes only by the Garden for Wellbeing Co-ordinator. The Friends of Park Hill Park fully complies with the Data Protection Act (1998) including updates. We respect your privacy and will not pass your details to any third party. This form will be destroyed when the Garden for Wellbeing project is completed. For more information please contact Catherine at garden4wellbeing@gmail.com.