Beaconsfield gardening

Two service users; Sydney and Latisha who live together have been working on the front and back gardens of their residence, successfully brightening up the outside of where they live and showing their creative skills in the process. In order to find out more about why they began their work on the garden and how it may have positively impacted their day to day lives, one of the service users Sydney and a support worker named Grace were interviewed by Expect and asked about how the gardening has helped the two.

interview with Sydney 

Why did you and Latisha begin to work on the garden?

We were tired of the front of the house being bored and very plain. We also felt that working on the garden would make our house feel more like a home.

How has the process of bettering the garden been like for you? have you enjoyed it?

I have gained enjoyment from working on the garden. We began working around mid March, spending a few days each week watering the plants and adding in flowers that we bought and chose ourselves into the garden. We are still working on the garden, focusing on the back garden and putting lights at the back for better visibility and getting rid of the ivy on the fencing. I have enjoyed seeing the work I have put into the garden make it a nicer space to be in.  Because of the garden there has also been more animals such as birds, caterpillars and butterflies in the garden which have been lovely to see.

how has working on the garden helped your mental health?

It has helped my mental health by being able to see the positive impact of Latisha and I’s work on the front garden, as many people walking past the house have complimented the flowers we have put inside.

Support worker Grace interview

How was the idea for Latisha and Sydney to begin work on the garden pitched and how has the process of them working on it gone?

the idea for the two of them to begin doing up the garden was first pitched by another support worker who gave the both of them access to artificial flowers which they begin to put into the garden. This then graduated to them planting real flowers into the garden.

What are the benefits to Latisha and Sydney’s day to day wellbeing  that you have seen from the gardening ?

There are many benefits to the gardening for them both. They have been able to utilize their creativity with the flowers that they choose to plant, they are able to socialize in the garden as they work and take pride in something they are responsible for the upkeep of. The natural beauty of the flowers also helps to bring peace to their minds.

Do you think that they will both continue to work on the front and back garden in the near future?

Yes I believe that they will continue to work on the garden especially the back garden as they have already made plans on what to do after the ivy is gone. I think they will make the garden look even nicer as time goes on as well.