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an extract from… Network News (a Thrive
publication) |
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Issue Number 36 February
2004 |
Page 3 of 6 |
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Project news—Growability |
The Horticultural Skills Unit (HSU)
at Hepscott Park, Morpeth in Northumberland started in 1985 offering a service
to eight people with learning disabilities who had previously attended an ATC
(Adult Training Centre).
I felt then that we were in the business of changing identities, of changing
the way people saw themselves and the way others saw them, with horticultural
work being a means to that end. The Unit had the powerful atmosphere of
liberation in those days, with that small group of people responding with great
enthusiasm to new challenges and experiences. People surprised their carers,
both unpaid and professional, and indeed themselves, with what they could do.
Nineteen years later that first Unit has grown, and has been joined by two
other Units, all managed by the Northumberland Care Trust. The Units have
adopted the collective name Growability, and now provide horticultural training
and experience to approximately 110 people per week.
The Units still have a good atmosphere, but perhaps without
that “buzz” of the early years. We have always organised occasional day trips
to other gardens, but in 1997 Tynedale Horticultural Service (THS) ran the
first three day camping trip, visiting gardens in south west Scotland. We
quickly realised that these trips – apart from being fun and giving the
opportunity to visit gardens further away – could help to put some of that
“buzz” back into the service we offer.
We have run annual three day trips from THS ever since, and
in 2001 extended this to a five day trip to Cornwall, visiting the Eden
Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Trebah Gardens. This adventurous trip
included a long journey from Northumberland to Cornwall and back by train, and
accommodation in two caravans. For the 10 people who went (including two staff)
this eventful and at times challenging trip was a huge success, with memories
of the gardens visited, the barbecue, the meals out and the epic journey back
being talked about for months, even years afterwards. People on the trip built
new relationships and came to see each other differently – generally in
positive ways. It helped to lift us all out of the institutional rut into which
all long-term services – even small horticultural units – are liable to slide,
and the benefits lasted well beyond the end of the trip.
Last year Sleekburn HTU
(Horticultural Training Unit) organised their second camping trip, this time
visiting some of the gardens in south-west Scotland that THS had been to. The
trip was in early September, camping at Sandgreen near Gatehouse of Fleet, and
the weather forecast was not promising. Twelve of us took a chance on the
weather, and were rewarded with three wonderful days, including a moonlit
barbecue on the campsite, some excellent gardens (Logan Botanic, Logan House
and Threave), organic ice cream, late night walks on the beach, and a lot of
laughter. We all found each other excellent company, and again came to see each
other differently. If you want to feel the “buzz”, call in to see us at
Sleekburn HTU (between Ashington and Blyth in Northumberland) – people are
still talking about it.
www.growability.co.uk
Clive Moon, Unit Manager
© Thrive 2004