Event to mark ‘allot’ of success for NHS gardening project

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s health improvement service in Calderdale is recognising the success of its allotment programme by holding an event to showcase its achievements.

‘Gardening for health’ is part of the service’s wider ‘get active outdoors’ programme, which offers free outdoor activities to adults in Calderdale to help them get the recommended amount of physical activity they need to stay healthy.

As part of the ‘gardening for health’ programme, the health improvement service offers courses and activities on their plots at the Pellon allotment site in Halifax, teaching people how to grow their own seasonal fruit and vegetables and supporting their emotional wellbeing through outdoor activities.

To celebrate the success of the programme, the service is holding an open day on Tuesday 30 September at Pellon allotments, Stretchgate Lane, Halifax, from 1pm – 4pm for local people to view the allotment and register their interest in taking part in future sessions during 2015.

Fenella Downs, health improvement practitioner at the Trust, said: “The main benefit of gardening is just being in the great outdoors. It’s not just the physical benefit that being in the fresh air and green surroundings brings, it’s the benefit it brings to your wellbeing.

“The people who come to our sessions learn new skills, meet new people, and achieve things that they can be proud of. Our end of season event is being held to recognise the popularity of the courses and the fantastic effect they have had on the local people of Calderdale.”

The Trust’s Calderdale health improvement service provides free information and advice to help improve overall wellbeing, including support to lose weight and be more active. To find out more about the health improvement service, visit www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk

To book a place at the event, call 01422 397370.