'A garden is much more than a physical space, it is also a mental space' - Dr Sue Stuart-Smith, The Serge Hill Project
'Being outside is a human right' - Dr Olivia Chapple, Horatio’s Garden
We were delighted to host our first ever event on gardening and health in The Apple House on 6 November in the form of our sold out symposium: The Safe Green Space: Gardens and Health, run by The Serge Hill Project in collaboration with Gardening4Health, the charity run by GP Dr Richard Claxton.
The Safe Green Space took its name from the title of a chapter in Dr Sue Stuart-Smith's internationally bestselling book on gardening and health, The Well Gardened Mind: Rediscovering Nature In The Modern World. This is the book which is in essence the seed which gave life to The Serge Hill Project, which Sue co-founded with her husband, Tom.
Following Sue's keynote introductory speech, GP Richard Claxton spoke about the journey of Gardening4Health towards becoming a charity which supports and connects a network of therapeutic gardens across the UK. This was followed by a cheery double act in the form of Garden Designer and TV presenter Arit Anderson and Sunnyside Rural Trust's CEO Keely Siddiqui Charlick who spoke about their collaboration and commitment to the type of gardening that nourishes both planet and people. Ruth Madder of Bridewell Gardens, a mental health recovery service in West Oxfordshire then spoke on the role of the horticultural therapist as well as
exploring routes into it as a career.
Everyone then explored the Plant Library with Head Gardener Millie Souter and the Barn Garden and Prairie with gardener Derek Hunter, before returning for a hearty vegetarian lunch of soup, quiche and cake. After lunch, a stirring 10 minute performance of Bach by Kurosh Davis, a former professional viola player and now Director of Tom Stuart-Smith Studio, settled everyone back into the present moment, hearts lifted and ready for the afternoon session.
The afternoon was dedicated to the incredible work of Horatio's Garden, the charity which creates gardens for spinal units across the UK, and featured a presentation by the charity's co-founder Dr Olivia Chapple, who also spoke to a former patient Joe Darrell about his experiences at Horatio’s Garden in Glasgow and Stanmore. Tom Stuart-Smith explored his time designing Horatio's Garden in Stanmore before Ashley Edwards shared his experience of day to day life in the gardens as Head Gardener and Horticultural Therapist there.
The shared passion and dedication to all aspects of therapeutic horticulture in the room, from speakers to audience members, was palpable and galvanising. We were so inspired that we’re already plotting ideas for our 2025 symposium! Thanks to all who took part.