Stories from the Community Plant Nursery
Names have been changed
Beth’s Story
Beth started volunteering at the Community Plant Nursery in the summer of 2020, as lockdown restrictions lifted to allow outside activities, looking for a way to keep active during her retirement. Having started working at a garden at her local medical surgery, Beth met Octopus staff and was encouraged to join the regular Wednesday morning volunteering sessions at the Community Plant Nursery. Beth shared “I appreciated finding another garden where I could go on a regular basis and where I felt better, helping to establish the CPN, making the once derelict site green and productive and meeting new people”.
Beth’s medical surgery project ended during, so while continuing to volunteer regularly at the CPN, Beth has got involved in other gardening projects in the area. She is now fully involved in three local gardens, and relishes her time involved in these projects.
““Coming here has helped me get a sense of purpose. It gives me something to do and it takes my mind off the difficult situation I am in. I like the environment here, I find it calming. I have definitely improved in my interaction with other people here. They are friendly. When I started, I didn’t speak to anyone, now we’re all friends. I love learning about plants and have drawn and painted some for the plant information labels. I’m now taking new vegetables home like kale and PSB and cooking and eating these. I wasn’t eating so well before. I feel a lot better when I’m outside doing manual labour””
Tahir & Nick’s Stories
Tahir started volunteering weekly at the Community Plant Nursery along with the Mencap MeTime group, and his support worker Nick. When Tahir first started at the CPN, he lacked confidence and experienced anxiety when around groups.
Ove rtime, Tahir has grown in confidence and engages with the other members of the group, he is always smiling and keen to participate in the varied activities. Tahir is the group’s ‘Activities Announcer’, and enjoys starting the sessions by reading out all the activities to the group and ticking these off at the end of the session.
Tahir particularly enjoys watering the plants and seeing the fruits of his labour, including harvesting vegetables to take home, which his Mum really appreciates! He loves the sensory experiences of the CPN, the smells, the touch of the soil, sight of the colours and watching things grow, all of which he finds relaxing.
Nick supports Tahir on his visits to the Commuinty Plant Nursery, and has enjoyed learning new skills over the sessions and building his gardening confidence. Mark shares that he enoys being present, relaxed and productive during the sessions, and misses the peace the CPN provides on weeks he can’t attend.
Mark particularly enjoys being low down near the soil, observing the small-scale details, plants and insects. Mark and his family enjoy tasting the vegetables he brings home, especially introducing his young son to new flavours and textures.
“I have broadened my social contacts which I really enjoy. I am constantly learning more about gardening and using this knowledge and experience at home and in other community gardens. Generally, my skills linked to horticulture, gardening and garden maintenance have improved. I knew very little before and had little confidence in my gardening skills. That has all changed and I enjoy being more confident in the garden. I also feel much better and happier when I’m out of doors doing physical activities.”
Eliana’s Story
Eliana has been attending the Community Plant Nursery regularly since Spring 2024. Prior to attending Eliana shared she was not in a good way mentally or physically. She found out about Octopus through an organisation that helps young people find new activities and volunteer roles, and who supported her to attend her first session at the CPN. After this first session, Eliana felt able to attend independently.
