People and Gardens Programme celebrates ten year anniversary

May 30, 2007

A group closely linked with the Eden Project, which enables people with learning difficulties to enjoy gardening skills celebrates its tenth birthday next month (June).

People and Gardens is a private business that relies on funding from Adult Social Care (formerly Social Services) and Cornwall Partnership Trust.

The programme started in June 1997 was originally located at the Lost Gardens of Heligan Eden’s Watering Lane Nursery has been the base for the last four years.

There are currently 35 participants in the group, some full-time and some attending on a part-time basis, with a wide age range from 16 to 70. Thirty-five percent of the attendees are not funded but are given places because there is nowhere else that can provide them with the social inclusion teaching that the programme offers.

Group members have a variety of different disabilities, ranging from severe autism to Down’s Syndrome, including issues with self esteem, confidence, and social exclusion. Some have had attempted college courses and struggled to thrive, finding People and Gardens a successful alternative to enable re-integration into society.

People and Gardens aims to promote emotional and physical well being through gardening and group activities, providing the group with improved independence, development, happiness and self-belief.

Over the last ten years, it has helped over 150 people with members moving on to jobs in the working world. One of the team went on to achieve a degree in Environmental Biology. Another now has a job with Morrisons supermarket chain.

Ken Radford, Director of People and Gardens said: “The last ten years have been a time of exploration and discovery. We have been privileged to be able to work alongside groups of people who, despite their experiences, have been determined to show that they deserve equality in all aspects of their lives.

“The philosophy that people can experience benefits, sometimes dramatically, through integration at work has been evidenced by those who now have independent living and control over their own lives.

“The next ten years will hopefully see the consolidation of all the hard work put in by People and Gardens staff, service users, Adult Social Care and The Eden Project so that this philosophy can be further promoted much wider in our society. The people we support deserve no less.”

The group are currently growing gourds for the Eden site. They are also working on growing crops and vegetables that will eventually feature on the menus in the Project’s award-winning restaurants.

To celebrate their achievements the group are holding an open day for Eden staff, Adult Social Care employees and carers of the participants. There will be display boards of past and present work alongside tours of the nursery.

The group is also planning a trip to Butlins Holiday Park in Minehead later in the year as a reward for all their hard work.