We have 5.5 acres of land and we run a small garden centre on 3 acres of it. We have 4 beehives, a land sculptured mouse and a wishing well! In order to fulfil our mission to make horticulture accessible to everyone, we need our paths and polytunnels to be accessible to wheelchair users, we need to raise half the beds for sitting gardeners to use and we need all the walkways have high contrast edges, so people with less sight can move around safely.

What we'll deliver:

• Lay tarmac paths to all areas of the gardens so people in wheelchairs can enjoy the grounds
• Raise half the vegetable beds so seated gardeners plant, weed and harvest their vegetables
• Paint high contrast glow-in-the-dark edges for all the walkways

Why it's a great idea:

Gardening and Horticulture are therapeutic and educational activities that everyone can enjoy. Many disabled and sensory impaired people experience depression and anxiety as part of their daily lives. We want to offer a respectful, safe space, with an emphasis on mental well-being and resilience that everyone can enjoy. We already welcome young people who are struggling with traditional schooling, people who are long term unemployed and people with physical and learning difficulties. We want to expand this service and ensure it is accessible and enjoyable for everyone. People who come here will learn about the annual cycle of growing and harvesting, increase their self confidence, independence and employability. Everyone can benefit from the therapeutic aspects of working outside and growing their own produce. We work with people to achieve their own projects, grow and evidence their own skills and work alongside like minded people.

Steps to get it done:

• laying the tarmac paths
• Painting high contrast edges to walkways
• Sleepers laid in place for raised beds
• Beds filled with top soil
• work stations installed for the accessible vegetable beds
• More wheelchair users in the garden
• People with sight impairments using the garden
• More disabled people are using the gardens
• Mental wellbeing and resilience courses are running in the gardens.