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Resident News - Bethany House Courtyard

"Bloomin' Marvellous" - Residents gain skills and improve their courtyard

May 2008: “A collaboration between Bethany House gardening enthusiasts and St Mungo’s Putting Down Roots. A fun filled educational experience which resulted in NVQ qualifications for the residents that participated and a continuing project that will transform the courtyard at Bethany House into a green haven.”

The title and the summary is a joint statement written by the participants to describe the project which developed following a presentation at a Bethany House Coffee Morning in March. Matthew Henderson from St Mungo’s spoke to the residents about the Putting Down Roots programme and asked for volunteers.

Putting Down Roots is a gardening project for people who are currently homeless, have been in the past, or who are at risk of becoming homeless. Its aim is to develop gardening skills by growing organic vegetables, plants and carrying out hard landscaping and building projects. The London Development Agency fund the training, the plants and materials.

Kathleen, Connie, Margaret, Helen and Sam from Bethany House wanted to create a little oasis for all of the other residents. In the process they secured two qualifications: NVQ Level 1 in Raised Bed Construction and NVQ Level 2 in Planting Trees and Shrubs, which are both BTVC accredited courses.

Fiona Finn from St Mungo’s guided the residents. So far they have built a large timber planter in the courtyard which has been planted with Honeysuckle and assorted shrubs. There are also a number of other containers with Purple Basil, three types of Thyme, Bay Tree, French Lavender, Black Stemmed Bamboo, Camellia, Magnolia and Weeping Cherry. Many of the plants that were already in the courtyard have been replanted to make them a bit happier! Additional bedding plants and hanging baskets still need to be planted before the main courtyard is finally completed.

More recently, the small courtyard off of the TV room has become home to additional raised planters growing an assortment of tomatoes, courgettes, beetroot, potatoes and herbs. The plants are very healthy looking, but as yet they’re not exactly heavy with fruit, “Just one tomato. One … and I’ll be happy,” Kathleen joked. When fully grown, the vegetables will be picked and made available for residents to use.

In addition to the Bethany House project, throughout April and May, Kathleen and Connie have also been involved in planting a Sensory Garden at St George’s Garden in Holborn. The garden is designed for blind people and plants were chosen for their fragrance and texture. “They were instrumental in its creation,” Matthew from St Mungo’s commented. They were invited to the official opening on 7th June. “Friends of St George have asked us we’d like to go back and maintain the garden. They’re really lovely people,” Connie confided.

May 2008

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