Healthy Haven Garden
Promoting Community Health and Wellbeing
The Red and Green Practice in Hythe and Blackfield are prescribing a different type of treatment for their patients – the Healthy Haven Garden.
After receiving a kind donation to their charity, the Friends of Red and Green, the practice decided that it should be used for the benefit of the patients and the idea of the Healthy Haven Garden began.
A garden designed to be accessible by patients both young and old. With hardstanding suitable for mobility aids and raised beds that can be reached from a wheelchair, the garden also includes sensory areas and fruit trees creating a calming environment.
The area behind the GP practice in Hythe was just a lawn and not utilised so the practice thought it would be a great place to increase social activity.
There is good evidence that ‘green care’ in the form of social and therapeutic horticulture can enhance mental wellbeing by reducing anxiety and stress through increased contact with nature; there are social benefits of group activity by helping people contribute something positive in their community.
The Healthy Haven Garden was established in 2019 to provide a facility that could be used by the Practice and the local community to encourage physical and mental wellbeing, through learning gardening skills and promoting gardening as a means of exercise.
Building the garden
The garden was established in 2019. The practice chose Fairweather’s Landscapes in Beaulieu, a local company to carry out the design and build of the garden.
Once the plans for the garden were agreed, the contractors moved on to the site to undertake the construction work and planting before it was handed over to the garden volunteers.
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For further details on how the site was developed and to access more information on the garden, please use this link.
The Healthy Haven Garden wouldn't survive without the time and effort
that all the volunteers kindly dedicate to maintaining the garden.
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The Red and Green practice very much appreciate all the volunteers
that give their time to make the garden such a beautiful place for our
patients and staff members.
Just a few of the volunteers that dedicate their time to the garden.
Living After Loss
Beyond Bereavement
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The Living After Loss support group meet in the garden every Thursday, for a relaxing afternoon with tea and snacks,
from 2pm to 4pm, throughout June, July and August.
The Living After Loss support group helps people through what can be for some the hardest time of their lives.
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For those people who would value a safe space to talk, they provide counselling support or therapeutic chat.
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For further information: www.LivingAfterLoss.co.uk or telephone: 02380196643 or 07578 838393