Mindgrowers allotment project has been running for over 10 years now and is open to survivors and users of the mental health system and to those with experience of emotional distress. 

Members attend weekly sessions at one of the sites in Leamington Spa or Alcester and take part in activities such as planting, cultivating, growing and nurturing, and do physical work, for instance digging and construction.

They can be as involved as they want to, spending as much or as little time there as they wish, and undertaking the work they want to or are capable of.

We are totally organic which means we do not use pesticides or artificial fertilisers, in fact we take positive steps to encourage wildlife and use practical methods to keep them off our produce!

All produce is divided amongst the group, according to who grew it, who needs it, and who is involved when the crops are harvested.

Excess produce is sold through the Wellbeing exchanges and open days to raise further funds for the project.

Members have reported  benefits from the increased access to nature and ‘growing things’ and the peace of the outdoor environment which offer opportunities for self-reflection and relaxation.

Some have found that going to the projects have helped them in other ways, building self-esteem and developing social skills as well as improving health and well being. 

We encourage healthy eating by demonstrating how to prepare and cook the produce and have also participated in regular ‘forages’ around our environment to access free foods.

We sometimes take a day off to go on visits to other gardens, or places of interest and make a regular Autumnal  pilgrimage to Batsford Arboretum. 

The largest of our gardens is situated in the north of Leamington on New Milverton allotments.

We meet here on a Tuesday from around 9.30 and members bring a packed lunch and leave when they want. The garden here is very private and, due to its size, there is always plenty to do. 

A smaller plot is found at St Marys Allotments on the Radford Road where we meet on Wednesdays from 10 – 4.

This is a very social group where interaction with other plot-holders around the site helps many increase their social skills and self confidence by meeting others in the wider community who share their interests in horticulture and gardening activities. 

We have a similar plot in Alcester which runs on a Thursday from 1 – 3. This plot is in its first year and we are still learning what we can grow here, although crops so far have been abundant and we find the other plot-holders very friendly in offering advice and young plants.