Homes and Gardens / allotments
Award-winning dementia allotment featured in National Garden Scheme
What began as an abandoned plot transformed during the pandemic has grown into one of the UK’s leading dementia-friendly and accessible gardens, which will be open to the public on Sunday from midday to 4pm as part of the National Garden Scheme.
In March 2020, two weeks before the first lockdown, Alive, a charity focused on improving the quality of life of older people and their carers, were handed the keys to an overgrown and weed-infested plot in Brentry.
The vision was to create a therapeutic, multi-sensory safe space for individuals affected by dementia, allowing them to garden with support and enjoy nature.
After five years of intensive labour and transformation, Brentry Community Allotment at Charlton Road Allotments has won awards, been featured on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World and attracted hundreds of volunteers.
Alive worked on the space for 15 months after being handed the keys
Alive staff and volunteers support participants with the heavier, more physically demanding gardening tasks, enabling them to continue gardening or rediscover a love of it.
The allotment has recently gained further recognition through its selection for the National Garden Scheme, a charity that opens “exceptional private gardens in England” to the public to raise money for health and wellbeing causes.
For Guy Manchester, community allotment officer at Alive, the greatest reward has been seeing the community use the space.
One of his proudest moments came when a regular visitor said schemes like this should be prescribed on the NHS, calling “the most powerful medicine you could possibly get”.
The space attracts volunteers who help keep the allotment running
Guy says individuals with advanced dementia often struggle to express how they feel or are non-verbal.
“They often look really anxious and upset, but as soon as they come through the big gate into our little plot it’s like you just see the shoulders drop, a smile comes over their face,” Guy said.
“They just suddenly know that it’s somewhere where they feel safe, seen and understood.”
Guy’s pride in the project is clear: “I can’t believe I ended up doing this job, it is the best job in the world.”
Beyond its therapeutic impact, Guy is keen to emphasise the quality of the space itself.
“Although our primary focus is on the therapeutic side of the space, I’m also keen to demonstrate that this doesn’t mean we can’t garden to high horticultural standards, keep the space aesthetically pleasing, and garden in ways that centre sustainability and biodiversity.”
Guy emphasises the horticultural standards of the allotment
Maelo Manning is reporting on the Southmead area as part of Bristol24/7’s Community Reporters programme, aiming to amplify marginalised voices and communities often overlooked by mainstream media. This initiative is funded by our public, Better Business members and a grant from The Nisbets Trust.
All photos: Alive
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