Want to get out into nature and learn about growing food and gardening? Get active and improve your fitness and stamina? Build your confidence? Socialise with new people and do things together?
Growing Ability offers social therapeutic horticulture sessions for adults with learning disabilities and mental health concerns, at our beautiful growing plots and community garden in Hitchin. Here’s a short film about Growing Ability called “Come and Try!”
At Growing Ability we work together to grow fruit and vegetables in our beautiful growing spaces, often making what we grow into delicious healthy food. As well as helping to look after the Triangle Community Garden, we also go on active nature walks around our local park and support each other in living healthier, more fulfilled lives.
If you join Growing Ability as a ‘gardener’ you’ll be taking part in meaningful activities and skills training in horticulture, nature conservation, healthy living, cooking and food prep, nature-based art and crafts/woodwork.
Everyone at Growing Ability is involved in making plans for what we do at the project, from small decisions like how long we will walk each day, to big ideas like getting a polytunnel and deciding what to grow in it. Our quarterly reviews with gardeners, staff and volunteers help to inform how our organisation develops.
At Growing Ability it’s a lot more than gardening. As well as learning new skills, we like to have fun – we celebrate birthdays, we enjoy doing art, we explore new taste experiences, we go on visits to places like Cambridge Botanical Gardens and we help run community events like Hitchin Apple Day and our Summer Garden Party.
If you or someone you know would like to join us at Growing Ability, please contact us
What people say about Growing Ability:
‘The main thing about being here is you’ve got people you can talk to. Doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, you’ve always got someone you can connect with. I find the staff are really really good, and the volunteers. They make me feel that I belong here … I really enjoy coming here and look forward to it.’
‘I’d definitely recommend Growing Ability because it really helps with mindfulness and friendship…’
‘I like coming to Growing Ability because it’s an escape from being stuck at home all the time and it’s great exercise, hanging out with people, and [we] get to see everything we grow from seed to harvest, which is fantastic!”
‘Growing Ability is now an integral part of my son’s life. It provides twice weekly support for him, it’s a group that he’s comfortable with and a place where he can share his ideas and interests and know that he is accepted and listened to. I know that he looks forward to attending each session, and misses those sessions greatly [when] unable to attend. The staff support and encourage him in every possible way and I firmly believe that he gains immeasurably from this, mentally, emotionally and physically.’ a parent
