Comment - April 2012
Gardening Against the Odds
I've been fortunate recently to have been involved in an initiative aimed at raising the profile of the benefits of gardening. What many may take for granted or undertake with a certain amount of drudgery, others find life changing. As a judge of the Gardening Against the Odds awards I find going through the entries one of the most difficult, but heart-warming things I do because each one can tug at the heart strings.
The odds vary considerably, sometimes they involve health, both physical and mental. For others it is gardening in almost impossible places. Whatever the odds my judging colleagues who include some of the country's leading garden experts, are introduced to people who could so easily not bother. They could have a much easier life, and for some, if they gave up no-one would know - or care.
This year's overall winners were a group of people suffering from Huntingdon's Disease for whom you could well think the odds were totally stacked against them. But for two years they have met regularly at an allotment in Southend and as a result they freely admit their lives have changed. They have found companionship and a purpose in life through growing plants and sharing produce. Lives, which before their allotment project had been in darkened rooms, have since been spent in fresh air and all weathers. Other projects we were introduced to are helping soldiers returning from war zones and elderly people who simply need a challenge to make living a pleasure again.
And they have inspired me, because there must be many others who could benefit if only they had some place with space to garden. The Church of England has over 16,000 churches, some 10,000 of which have churchyards, but even those who don't will have some land. The smallest space may be the only space in an urban community which could be turned into a Godsend. There must be many churches which could provide somewhere for people to meet and garden. Not necessarily to produce something to qualify for Chelsea, but somewhere where people can just share and care. Where they can get close to, and get their hands in, the soil for an hour or so.
Already I've found two examples at South London churches where projects are well established, but it would be good to know of others where their land is being used as source of therapy for members of its congregation or local community.
If you know of any example, however small, do let me know and if your church could provide a bit of garden space however it might seem to be against the odds at the moment, we'll start making a list.
david.shreeve@churchofengland.org
