Safe, Well, Happy Plants

BUILDING a community garden with sensory features is the aim of a social gathering getting together to promote friendship and health. 

The Safe, Well, Happy group meets each month at The Old School in Quorn and is moving two tonnes of soil into planters, troughs and flower beds to develop a quiet space people can visit for peace of mind. 

They pulled together to fill the planters with fruit, vegetables and herbs, put up a living wall and made a small pavilion the centre piece of the harmonious area.     

Jane Parr leads the group and said it aims to have a more relaxed and less formal approach to well–being and socialising. 

“It’s about encouraging people to be as healthy as possible and develop friendship which can be difficult for some with vulnerabilities. This isn’t a medical model,” said Jane formerly of the NHS Leicestershire Partnership Trust (LPT) and now retired. 

She said in the beginning it was for people in Charnwood but now they travel to Quorn from as far as Countesthorpe, Coalville and Hartshorne, South Derbyshire. 

Playing boccia, like bowls and pétanque, the group, linked to Active Charnwood agreed it was a good opportunity to see people and enjoy being together. 

Russell said he joined around three years ago and travels from Peggs Green near Coalville with his personal assistant Lee. 

“We got the garden going and I’ve taken some things home like onions and carrots,” said Russell. 

“I like seeing people, it’s a nice place and we’ve planted lots of stuff like tomatoes.” 

Joe, who works two shifts a week at the Co – Op in Kegworth travels to the meetings from Hartshorn in South Derbyshire. He said he likes to make new friends like Connor, who plays chess and help out in the garden. 

“We play games and the activities are good for people who might find them hard,” said Joe. 

Kevin originally came as a volunteer from the NHS and is now retired.  

He said: “Equality and diversity is an important part of Safe, Well, Happy.”  

Speech and language therapist from the NHS LPT Clare Scott supports the members. 

“We looked at some plans and chose some seeds and then the guys did the work,” said Clare.