The problem that he encountered as a GP was that he was unaware of what was available in his area. Often he’d come across these organisations in a rather haphazard way – perhaps visiting a garden in the National Garden Scheme, or as an affiliate of the Royal Horticultural Society – and only then understanding the role they could offer his patients, either to be service users, or to work as volunteers. He’d often find some amazing charity and blog about it – but was both sad that local GPs were unaware of its existence, and frustrated that the benefits were only available to such a small, localised population.

So with Social Prescribing booming, and actively encouraged by the UK Government, there seemed to be a lack of coordination and publicising of the available services – either to prescribers like Richard, other health or social care workers, or even for members of the public to self-refer.

This website started out as an attempt to address this need. It was hoped that people could use it primarily to find out what services are available in any given locality within the UK. Also we hope that the organisations themselves may be able to use it as a means of networking and liaising with like-minded Horticultural Therapy Practitioners.

To fill a geographical gap in the Directory, and to pilot a project within the NHS, The Tonbridge Therapy Garden was established in April 2023, funded by the Tonbridge Primary Care Network (PCN), using land given rent free on a Tonbridge allotment.

The participating practices within this PCN were: Warders Medical Centre, Tonbridge Medical
Group, Woodlands Health Centre (Paddock Wood & East Peckham, Hildenborough and Tonbridge Medical Group and Hadlow Medical Centre. They collectively have 64,000 patients.

Referrals mainly came from GP Surgeries, but some came via Social Prescribers, Social Work, Mental Health workers – NHS & 3rd sector, Learning Disability Groups and Homes, One You – Kent and Medway Healthier lifestyles, Churches, Temples and other faith groups, Veterans Groups and Domestic Abuse support organisations.

People referred to the Therapy Garden were called Gardeners, rather than Patients.

Tonbridge Therapy Garden Link Workers spent time assessing new referrals and planning sessions, then delivering the sessions, which ran from Tuesday to Friday, with Gardeners on site from 10am to 12pm or from 1pm to 3pm.

As well as supporting people with primarily Mental Health problems, we were expanding our offer to include shorter courses and one-off groups – delivered for specific groups with physical health problems such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

In addition “Hit Squads” made up of the Link Workers and Gardeners visited gardens in the community, to help with hedge trimming and weeding (for example for elderly residents in social housing who had become disabled or unwell).