Growing Minds (Not currently running)
Growing Minds was our 6-week Allotment-based Ecotherapy group, designed by Derbyshire Mind and Derby County Community Trust.
Growing Minds was our 6 week Allotment-based Ecotherapy group that took place in Chaddesden on Tuesday Evenings, designed in partnership with Derby County Community Trust.
This free course had been designed to help you de-stress and experience the wellbeing benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables this summer whilst coming together as a community.
What is Growing Minds?
This group was designed to enable you to get creative, de-stress, and learn how to help nature grow and blossom. All sessions helped to boost your mood and support your mental wellbeing.
Led by Derby County Community Trust’s Green Activities Officer and supported by our Peer Support Volunteer, the group was invited to join in with a range of enjoyable and interesting allotment-based activities centred around resourceful growing, utilising your senses, and connecting with nature.
We hoped that our attendees left at the end of the session feeling part of a shared community, feeling more relaxed, having learnt a new skill and feeling able to continue to use the benefits of nature to support their mental health from home.
How does Allotment-based Ecotherapy help with our wellbeing?
Spending time in a allotment and being surrounded by nature has been shown to reduce stress and promote relaxation. The act of gardening itself can be meditative, allowing you to focus on the present moment and disconnect from daily worries.
Being in the fresh air, getting your hands in the soil, and witnessing the growth of plants can foster a sense of peace, grounding, and appreciation for the natural world. Successfully growing your own vegetables can provide a strong sense of achievement. The process of nurturing a plant from seed to harvest can boost self-esteem and confidence, and then you can take your veg home and enjoy it!
Group Details:
This Group is not currently running in 2024 at the allotments, however we do have a One off Growing Minds Session at Chatsworth House on Tuesday 23rd July 2024.
Click here for more information on our Wellbeing at Chatsworth sessions
Where was Growing Minds Held?
Growing Minds was held at:
Little Chester Allotments, Old Mansfield Road, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 4SA.
Arriving by Car:
It takes about 10 minutes to drive here from Derby City Centre. There is parking at the front of the allotments near the big gates. You will see a sign above the turn for the car park that says “Little Chester Allotments”.
If the car park is ever full, you can park on the street that runs along side the allotment where you are not blocking anyone’s drive.
Arriving by Public Transport:
The Number 24 bus service operates between Derby and Chaddesden and stops outside Hampshire Road – There is a short walk from the bus stop to the allotment.
Accessibility:
If you have any accessibility requirements, please do get in touch with us so we can support you.
Keep an eye out on our Website for future Eco Therapy sessions and also our at home resources
We would love for you to join us on any upcoming Growing Minds sessions and see for yourself the wellbeing benefits of growing our own fruit and vegetables.
Please do keep an eye out for updates on our Website and also our Social Media pages.
We will be launching our At Home Resources soon which will have lots of nature based activities for you to try at home in your own time.
Our Growing Minds Partners
We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Derby County Community Trust to deliver the Growing Minds Project.
Danielle and Lucas who will be leading the course are an experienced Green Activities Officer and a Physical Activity & Health Support Officer.
Learn more about Derby County Community Trust by visiting their website:
https://www.derbycountycommunitytrust.com
