Hello everyone, I’m Victoria. I’m an Occupational Therapist and I’m the engagement activity and physical health team lead at the Montpellier unit in Gloucester and this is Robert, Roberts, one of my engagement activity and physical health team members. Thank you for joining us this morning. This is the story of an ever expanding group of people who have collaboratively redeveloped a therapeutic allotment to aid the recovery journeys of service users receiving care from services within Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust. This story shares the raw highs and lows of our journey, and we hope to inspire you all to keep growing and stay amazing. Our story is built on hope, healing, compassion, and community. It is underpinned by Co production, personalization, sustainability, sustainability. And actively tackling health inequalities for and with a group of gentlemen living within a low, secure recovery unit. Many of our gentlemen face exclusion and stigma on a daily basis. So this is the story of myself Robert, Jack, John, Dan, Ted, and Christoph. It is the story of education, teamwork, tenacity and making the impossible possible. It is also the story of a Princess, a television presenter, and a chicken named Beyoncé. We have, we did actually have a chicken named Beyoncé didn’t we, Robert? So, our story has many chapters, some are yet still to be written. We cannot possibly share our story in its entirety within the 10 minutes that we have, so please look out for our extended podcast and connect with us after the event. Please also take some time to look at the props we’ve brought with us today. It is often said that a picture paints 1000 words. Our information board documents our story and illustrates the underpinning principles of occupational therapy, which have informed our decision making along the way. We also have some wild flower seeds for you to take home with you and start growing your own connections. Finally, we have some poetry written by our gentlemen. I hope you’ll agree their words are incredibly poignant and illustrate the impact our allotment has made so far and the potential it has to continue to inspire us all for years to come. So I’d like to start with an acknowledgement, so Robert and I wish to express our thanks to all of those who have supported the development of the therapeutic allotment over the years. So after discovering the neglected allotment, we presented initial thoughts and opportunities in the ward community. Meeting the response was overwhelmingly positive, we could fix up the cabin, call it the coop, I love that idea, I would help, that would give me something helpful and purposeful to do. ~Over the next few months a core group of volunteers, including staff, service users and experts by experience, worked tirelessly to clear and tidy the allotment site. It was hard work, but the shared effort created a sense of solidarity and shared accomplishment. Funds and resources at this point were non-existent. We relied on freebies, donations and careful use of limited ward funds. The work was tough and progress slow, but with each weed pulled and each seed planted, the allotment began to take shape. Got a very annoying fly for months passed and the allotment started to blossom. I love coming over here to water the tomatoes. Initial curiosity led to a thirst for knowledge, so we enlisted the support of adult education to run horticultural courses and vocational opportunities at our allotment. And so our growing connections courses were born. These provided our gentlemen with practical skills, knowledge and certification that could help them find work in the future. I will do it, so will I. Overtime we opened up our courses to others across the wider hospital site and many patients adopted the role of student, many for the first time in their lives. Our courses covered a wide range of topics, including sustainable gardening practises, soil health, pruning and Environmental Conservation. Each course was structured to provide a balance of theoretical knowledge and hands on practical experience, ensuring that students could apply what they learned directly in the allotment. The courses had additional benefits, opportunities to develop social skills, build new friendships and work on other important life skills, such as time management and fulfilling roles and responsibilities. As our allotment continued to grow and evolve, Ted arrived and brought fresh energy and expertise to the allotment. Ted was admitted to the Montpellier unit and it quickly became clear that his extensive experience in gardening would be a valuable asset to the team. Ted had deep rooted. Sorry, Ted had a deep rooted passion for gardening, which had been a significant part of his life before his health challenges. Recognising the therapeutic benefits of gardening and the positive impact he could have on his recovery, Ted’s care plan at the Montpellier unit focused on maintaining and enhancing his horticultural skills. Ted’s expertise were quickly appreciated by everyone. Ted’s knowledge is incredible. He not only understands the technical aspects of gardening. But also has a vision for what the allotment can become. As part of his recovery interventions, Ted was supported to complete tasks that allowed him to utilise and further develop his skills. This started with escorted visits to the allotment, working alongside other staff and other participants. However, Ted’s commitment soon earned him extensive unescorted leave on the site. Allowing him additional time to work on his own projects and joint projects on the site. Ted was particularly enthusiastic about the idea of creating a more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing entrance to the allotment. He led a project to repurpose a tired, unused polytunnel into a stunning arbour covered in vibrant blooms that welcomed visitors and set a positive tone for the rest of the allotment. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we work together, Ted remarked, looking at the completed arbour. This entrance symbolises the community and the potential we have. Ted’s journey at the allotment continues to be a testament to the therapeutic power of gardening and the importance of having a supportive care team, reinforcing the belief that with the right environment, encouragement and a team working in the least restrictive way anyone can overcome challenges and achieve great things. Interest in our allotment continue to grow and when I said we need a royal visit to endorse our allotment, our matron replied go for it and so we did. Amongst the flourishing success and growing community at the allotment, we contacted the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in London. Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal served as our patron, so it felt fitting to apply for a formal service visit. However, just as we were anticipating a response, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Bringing unprecedented challenges, the virus swept through the nation’s overwhelming healthcare systems and taking a huge toll on our allotment. The vibrant allotment, once a place of community and in healing, fell silent. Ted’s unescorted leave to the site was put in jeopardy due to the government’s stay at home restrictions. Social mixing was banned, forcing the cessation of all activities, including the cherished growing connection courses. We found ourselves in hospital scrubs and our once bustling allotment lay dormant, a stark contrast to its former lively state. Ted, who had found solace and purpose in the allotment, struggled with the sudden change. The government restrictions limited his ability to visit the site that had become a cornerstone of his recovery. His routine was disrupted and the therapeutic benefits he had enjoyed were impacted. Ted’s care team carefully reviewed the government guidelines and the mental health code of practise, and due to the allotment being a recognised place of treatment, a plan was made to enable him to continue attending. I’ve never seen a patient so relieved. Towards the end of the pandemic, we received a surprising response from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. Despite the circumstances, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal had expressed an interest in the therapeutic allotment and wanted to support our work. A visit date was to follow. The recognition from the Princess Royal reignited the team sense of purpose. It was a reminder of the importance of their work and the positive impact it had had on so many organising a visit from the Princess Royal was no small feat. I had no idea how much work was involved. Cas, the events manager from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, was an unwavering support as we navigated the protocols of hosting a royal visit. As everyone prepared for the royal visit, we began to realise how much this meant. Christoph, a service user who had been discharged from the Montpellier unit was particularly excited to meet the Princess Royal, Christoff had returned to the unit and the allotment as an expert by experience, this is such a special moment for all of us. I cannot wait to tell her how much this place means to us. We ask Christoph if he would do us the honour of presenting Her Royal Highness with a floral bouquet as a thank you gift from us. I would love to. During her visit, the Princess Royal remarked, this is truly inspiring, the dedication and resilience of this community are remarkable. For Ted, meeting royalty was also a moment he would never forget. I have never met royalty before, and the day lived up to his expectations. He proudly showed off the Arbour style entrance that he’d helped create, and shared his passion for gardening and community building with Princess Anne. The visit was a resounding success, bringing positive attention and further support to the therapeutic allotment. Media coverage from the BBC highlighted the innovative and inclusive work being done, attracting interest from other organisations and potential funders. Businesses phoned to offer donations of sheds, books and tools. Increased interest and media coverage from the allotment resulted in an influx of requests from other services wanting their service users to benefit from the Therapeutic Space too. To manage this increased demand, we decided that a structured timetable of groups and sessions would be implemented. Our allotment currently offers gardening therapy sessions, creative writing, reading groups, mindfulness and meditation classes, animal care and bird watching activities, plus role and routine development aimed at ensuring unescorted and escorted leave with purposeful and meaningful and helping to help individuals establish healthy routines as part of their recovery journeys. Amongst the growing success and increased interest in the therapeutic allotment, the team saw an opportunity to further enhance the allotments capabilities, recognising the need for a dedicated space for educational activities and group sessions. So we successfully secured funding to develop a purpose built cabin with all weather facilities. Including a kitchen, wood burning stove and thankfully a fully functioning toilet, which we’ve never had before. If you will be aware of the old portfolio that we had, so this new resource enabled us to offer a comfortable, versatile private space for therapy, support groups, meetings and educational groups to ensure confidentiality and a conducive welcoming environment for healing. The completion of our cabin marked another significant milestone for the allotment site, so naturally it was time for another celebrity visitor to officially open our cabin. We need another open day, someone famous to officially open the new cabin. I vote Jeremy Clarkson, Francis Tophill, Monty Don, Nicki Minaj, Adam Henson. That is how the list went, isn’t it Rob, yeah. The first day was an sorry. The open Day was an opportunity for all families, friends, carers, service, users and staff to jointly celebrate together and further strengthen our sense of community. Adam Henson, a BBC television presenter from Countryfile, kindly agreed to officially open the new cabin, bringing addition, bringing additional and a sense of prestige to the event. The open day was a resounding success. Adam spoke warmly about the importance of spaces like the therapeutic allotment, highlighting how such initiatives bring people together and promote well-being. As the ribbon was cut, the new cabin was officially open, symbolising a new chapter. The outdoor kitchen was put to immediate use, with volunteers preparing and serving delicious BBQ food, adding to the celebratory mood. The atmosphere was filled with joy, pride, and a deep sense of connection, the successful open day marked a significant milestone, symbolising the growth and potential of the therapeutic allotment. With the support of the ever widening group of users and the continued dedication of the Montpellier team, the allotment will undoubtedly continue to be a place of healing, learning and connection for many years to come. To ensure its future, a committee was formed, members include service users, experts by experience and staff members. With this collective effort of the committee and the ongoing support of the community, the therapeutic allotment is well equipped to continue its task, making a positive impact on the lives of many for years to come. We hope our journey has offered an insight into the sorry. We hope our story has offered an insight into the journey we have undertaken. It has been. A path of growth, collaboration and community building, transforming the therapeutic allotment into an example of hope and healing from its humble beginnings as a neglected allotment to its evolution into a thriving therapeutic space. The story of the allotment site is a testament to what can be achieved with vision, dedication and a huge collective team effort. We have faced challenges from securing funding and navigating the complexities of COVID-19 to managing increased demand and forming a committee to share the workload. Each step has been a learning experience, underscoring the importance of adaptability, resilience and the importance of recognising and utilising everybody’s contribution, knowledge and experience. Our journey highlights the significance of providing a space where people can connect, grow and heal. The allotment has become more than just a place for gardening, it is a sanctuary for creative expression, mindfulness, skill development, and social connection. Each small step contributes to a larger vision. By fostering a sense of community, sharing responsibilities, and embracing new ideas, we can all create spaces that are meaning that make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. Thank you for taking the time to learn about our journey. May we inspire you to embark on a your own path of transformation and community building. Together we can create environments that nurture growth, healing and connection.