Story by Adrian Lake | Photo by Helena Dolby
On Wednesday the 8th of August mental health charity SAGE Greenfingers, held an open day to promote their work and encourage others to join. The allotment open day showcased how they do just this.
Clients and volunteers can garden on various allotments and grow plants and vegetables such as carrots, courgette’s and aubergines, with access to a greenhouse. They can also partake in singing with a choir, as well as doing arts and crafts, during the winter when gardening is limited.
“People come every week, not just in summer” Clare McManus
One outcome they have from this is having two ponds, on the main site, which were designed by client Ian Whatton. He plans to expand it by amalgamating the two and developing it by installing a rock garden, in order to provide more shelter for animals and wildlife. They also have a hut where food is cooked – with the crops they have grown – for clients and volunteers to share in a meal, after each session. This promotes cohesion and socialising amongst everyone. Furthermore, clients have an ideal place to work independently too with their allotments – Plots 9 and 66, which hold facilities such as a potting shed and a polytunnel to grow herbs and vegetables.
SAGE currently have thirty clients and fifteen volunteers. SAGE provide a comfortable and supportive environment which clearly helps a lot of clients with their emotional wellbeing, as well as having many volunteers there to offer a helping hand too.
For more information call 0114 273 7718 or 07932 927 153, or email enquiries@sagesheffield.org.uk
