Gardening together in the sun while listening to classical music: what a perfect way for our residents to spend a spring weekend
This week, 4th-10th April, is Community Gardening Week. It’s all about celebrating school and community gardens across the nation. So we thought it would be the perfect time to get in the spirit of togetherness and clear up the garden. Trustee Emily, her partner Mark and their gorgeous dog Stanley came to CENS to give the outdoor space a much-needed tidy. The residents got involved and helped plant an array of easy-to-manage shrubs.
Take a Break
It’s well-documented that being in nature and getting plenty of sunshine is paramount to your physical and mental health. Which is why we want to make the CENS garden a more enticing space. When they arrive, the service users at CENS are often at a low point in their lives. But now that the weeds have been managed and the dead leaves swept away, we hope the garden feels like a little oasis of calm where they can forget about the stresses and strains of their current situation.
Community Feel
We always encourage our residents to participate in group activities. Homelessness, isolation and loneliness often goes hand-in-hand. But being part of a group, even for only an hour or so of weeding, left everyone with smiles on their faces. Giving the garden the proper love and attention it needs is going to be an on-going team effort. We hope the residents will take responsibility for it’s upkeep so it’s not just the flowers that are blooming.
If you are a keen gardener, why not lend your expertise and enquire about volunteering in our communal garden here?