People and Gardens supply a day care service for people with physical and emotional impairments. We aim to promote emotional and physical well being through gardening and group activities within a real working environment. We are run by and for people whose lives have been affected by disability.
Participants have a range of disabilities from severe autism to Down's Syndrome. Many have issues with self esteem, confidence and social exclusion. People and Gardens provides the basis for improving independence, personal development, happiness and self-belief.
We currently have 35 people in the group, some full-time, others attending on a part-time basis, with a wide age range from 16 to 70. Over the last 10 years we have have helped over 150 people to make real improvements in their lives. Many have gone on to live independent lives, to study and finding jobs in the working world.
We have close links with the Eden Project and are based at their Watering Lane Nursery. Most of the placements are funded by Cornwall County Council Adult Social Care and the Cornwall Partnership. We work with other organisations to ensure better support, progress and continuity of care group participants.People who come and work at People and Gardens have the chance to develop a wide range of skills that can help get them back into work or education. Our main job is to help the Eden Project's team get plants ready for display at the main site. This might involve anything from planting gourds for the autumn harvest, to growing vegetables and planting spring bulbs.
Participants often work in the Watering Lane greenhouses, home to hundreds of fascinating and often exotic plants. We are often asked to help with projects researching new and innovative gardening methods. Find out more about our work on our projects page.
If you are interested in participating in our project, know someone who you think may benefit from a placement, or would like to ask us about the project you can find out how to go about it on our contact us page.
"Its not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain"
Read about our bumper gourd harvest in our news section!