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FEEL GOOD GARDENS: HELPING PEOPLE IMPROVE WELLBEING THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
We run a big friendly community garden in Nottinghamshire practicing social and therapeutic horticulture through growing, cooking and eating our own produce.
We run social and therapeutic horticulture sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays, nature volunteering on Thursdays, and cookery sessions.
We run social and therapeutic gardening sessions for people experiencing health mental, physical and social challenges such as stress, anxiety or isolation. To refer to this service, please follow this link.
People attending report that they feel healthier, happier, more connected to their communities, and eat more healthily.
The Feel Good Gardens Team
Clare Heyting
Partnerships & Development Manager/Director
Clare started Feel Good Gardens back in 2017 and has a wealth of experience in both gardening, social therapeutic horticulture, nature, and healthy growing/cooking. She is the go to person for anything and everything on site. She leads on building partnerships across the county with funders, councils, charities and community gardens for FGG, as well as heading up the Notts Community Garden Network which shares good practice, delivers training and supports community gardens across the county.
Paul Bradford
Director
Paul provides FGG with a great combination of practical help, local knowledge and connections and an all round social magnet. He is regularly helping out on site.
Karen Howe
Admin & Finance Officer
Karen previously worked in finance management at Citizens Advice and is a newcomer to gardening and grow-cook-eat culture but is a keen learner whilst organising all admin for FGG and co-ordinating the Notts Community Garden Network.
Rich Hand
Community Gardener
Rich has a wealth of experience as a gardener, ranger, outdoor activity and conservation manager and SEND tutor. He can build pretty much anything made of wood, loves nature and keeping busy outdoors. He can complete more practical skills than a team of people put together.
Jayne Totty
Community Garden Food Worker
Jayne is an amazing cook, cookery tutor and nutritionist. She has worked in a number of cookery schools and community gardens across the UK and knows everything you need to know about healthy cooking using homegrown produce. Her nutritional background also means she can advise on gut health, how foods affect digestion and how to improve your overall health through nutrition.
Jeff Bale
Treasurer/Director
Jeff worked in the insurance industry for many years as a company director so has a vast knowledge of business regulations and practices. He is also an enthusiastic learner of healthy cooking and eating from FGG.
“My son has been a regular attendee on Tuesdays and Fridays and the difference it has made to him has been immense. He looks forward to each visit and it has helped his well being and mental health. Long may it continue!”
“Our weekly visits to feel good gardens has made a massive impact on our mental health and well being…I’ve always dabbled in my garden but now I have vegetable patches, high raised flower beds and my garden has now become a productive space growing all sorts of vegetables for us to eat at home. I’ve increased my knowledge and my passion for gardening has increased 100%”