Carolyn’s Story: Sharing the therapeutic benefits of nature

As the weather turned icy and the process of winding the allotment down for winter began, I found myself reflecting on the last year. During the previous year I was feeling excited but nervous. I had made the transition from Allotment volunteer to Allotment Support Worker. I was aware that I had large shoes to fill as my predecessors, Amy and Phil, had done so much to develop Manchester Mind Allotment into the beautiful and productive space it is today.

One of the most satisfying parts of this job has been bearing witness to how our therapeutic sessions affect people’s mood and confidence. The allotment isn’t on the front line of Manchester Mind services, it’s a place where people take the first steps in their recovery. When I talk to people about why they want to come along, I find that they are often emerging from time spent shut away from the world. They are looking to reconnect with others, the world and themselves. When people arrive for the first time at our site, it is a massive step. Some people are very quiet to begin with while others feel the need to share their story with our supportive staff and volunteers. Some are still deep in anxiety or negative thought patterns.

However, time after time, I see a change happen. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the movement, the good food, the wide skies, the concentration of the task or the connection with others. For some gardening is a new adventure. For others it brings them back to happy memories of spending time with a loving caregiver, or moments in childhood where they could just play.

Whatever the reason, people begin to open up. They laugh more, they start to take more interest in the world around them, their body language opens up – they are more present. And there will be moments of joy – potatoes unearthed like buried treasure, the first taste of a pea fresh from the pod. And I am not immune to this myself. I can come to the allotment with a mind that is full to bursting, but being in this space always slows me down and brings me back to earth. In the summertime I often walk around ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ as I find buds and shoots that have come up, seemingly overnight.

The last year has seen the expansion of our allotment community – as a good percentage of people who have attended our therapeutic sessions choose to stay with us and become volunteers. To me that next step is an important part of the therapeutic process and it’s this supportive community that can contribute to people feeling an increased sense of resilience and empowerment. We now have consistent Monday sessions where volunteers contribute vitally to the maintenance of the allotment. We also make space for celebration with gatherings every season and our planning sessions in January mean we are co-creating this space.

Reflecting on the challenges of this year, one of them is undoubtedly persuading people to come to that very first therapeutic session – knowing how beneficial it could be, but having to accept that not everyone is ready.

The other is keeping in mind and in balance all the many diverse things that the allotment is – the growing of vegetables, the maintenance of structures, the holding of space for those we support and the planning of events and activities.

In that sense I feel very grateful for having such a wonderful team of colleagues and volunteers to work with. So, as I close down the allotment for the year, I feel very positive about what has been achieved. My first full year is done and I feel like I have learnt and experienced so much. It is time to put the tools away and turn inwards to make plans for the year ahead.

“I went straight home and started doing my own garden, I haven’t touched it in years – you inspired me to take a bit more care of my environment.” Allotment attendee

Find out more about our allotment and our gardening sessions.