Guest blog: Small Seeds, Big Dreams at Martineau Gardens

Social Inclusion

This week, our guest blog is from small grantee Martineau Gardens, a therapeutic community garden just outside Birmingham city centre, that provides a welcoming space to help people connect with nature and measurably improve their wellbeing. Read on to find out more about their important work and their Small Seeds, Big Dreams appeal.

Martineau Gardens works with a range of individuals, including adults and young people with additional needs, school groups from across the city, local families, refugees and asylum seekers, and people who are socially isolated.

Many of those who visit us experience green deprivation, meaning that they are not often able to access safe, inclusive green spaces. This can lead to social isolation, a disconnection with nature and low life satisfaction. We want to welcome as many people as possible to access the restorative benefits of our beautiful urban oasis.

Our Programmes

Therapeutic Horticulture brings together people with a range of support needs including learning disabilities, autism, mental health issues, acquired brain injuries and dementia, to provide social connections, to support their mental health and wellbeing, and to look after the gardens for our visitors. For over a decade, we have helped people to learn, grow and heal together. One volunteer said:

I wouldn’t have made it without the Gardens. It saved me and keeps holding me.

Alongside our adult Therapeutic Horticulture programme, we also provide supported group gardening and work experience placements for young people aged 14-25, whose additional needs mean that they can’t access traditional work experience opportunities. A Supported Work Experience student said:

Being outdoors made me feel relaxed and took my mind off the stress of school. I was worried about meeting lots of new people, but everyone was very friendly and the staff were very helpful and did a great job at educating and supporting me and the other volunteers. Martineau Gardens is a great place to make new friends and socialise in a constructive, rewarding environment.

Martineau Mondays wellbeing programme is open to all adults, and focuses on community, wellbeing, creative collaborative working, social inclusion and engagement with our therapeutic green space. We offer activities such as green woodworking and outdoor yoga. One participant commented:

I love it here at Martineau. The gardening and woodworking give me a sense of purpose that nothing else does. The sense of community is perfect and life-affirming.

The Environmental Education programme offers outdoor-based and curriculum aligned activities to more than 60 schools and home education groups each year. We are grateful to have received funding from KCCF to support this programme and school children from areas of environmental and economic deprivation. Following a school visit, one teacher noted:

Due to the immersive, tactile learning experience, the children were able to benefit from the positive and nurturing elements of being outdoors.

The Summer holiday playscheme supports 50 children each day. Participants are from low income backgrounds with a focus on newly-arrived families living in temporary accommodation. The children receive hot, healthy meals, and take part in a range of nature, crafts, sports and games outdoors.

Learn more about the charity’s impact and support the Small Seeds, Big Dream appeal to raise awareness and funds for a new community hub to serve more people, increase the charity’s reach and help provide a warm welcome with a complimentary cuppa for all visitors. Visit the gardens free of charge, 6 days per week, all year round!