From a disused bowling green to a thriving community hub offering a wealth of green and creative wellbeing activities, food growing initiatives, tai chi, children’s provision and community events. This is the story of how a green social prescribing grant helped to kickstart this incredible transformation!
The idea to create a community garden was initiated and developed by community volunteers. Community leadership and decision making has continued to be at the heart of the community garden as it has evolved.
In 2022 Redcatch Community Garden were successful in securing a green social prescribing grant from the first Healthier with Nature funding round to deliver a programme of gardening for wellbeing. A local bike-riding initiative helped to transport people to the garden and also offered bike riding opportunities as part of the session. The majority of people attending the group had little or no other social interaction except with health professionals. Most had long- term health conditions, mental health issues and/or disabilities. Many expressed that this was the only fresh air and exercise they got each week. Most of the people who attended regularly became socially more relaxed and comfortable which led to friendships being formed, a huge achievement for some people! Several people also started attending other events and groups at the garden and have made connections with each other outside of the groups. This positive impact demonstrated that this programme was serving the need of the local population, which enabled Redcatch Community Garden to secure extension funding to continue the gardening for wellbeing programme. They have since set up another gardening group to address the lack of provision for young people with additional needs. They are working in partnership with Step and Stone to offer work experience for young people with learning differences. Young people from the gardening group are involved in setting up the Community Lunches, providing further work experience opportunities as well as supporting community cohesion. Redcatch Community Garden also deliver an Art in the Garden programme, with art therapists providing mental health support, Tai Chi to provide crucial exercise and socialising opportunities, SEND friendly holiday clubs for young people in receipt of free school meals, work experience programmes for young people not in education and employment and many other inclusive events and activities.
Establishing strong partnerships with social prescribing link workers has taken time but Redcatch Community Garden trialled a dedicated warm transfer service to support referrals from the community to their services which has helped increase successful referrals. Redcatch Community Garden has become an important community anchor organisation supporting local health priorities within South Bristol.
Redcatch Community Garden film (credit to Ruby Valentine)