Raising £20,000 for a garden for a charity? That's a lot of money. Why don't you get round the garden centres and builders merchants for them to donate and get a mention in the press rather than asking the public for this.
Some of the lads staying at CS would be happy I'm sure to do the actual work creating the garden.

Dear Picasso

We have indeed approached suppliers, who have donated all the hard landscaping to the garden; we have had private donations as well. The money is going to create the garden at Hampton Court and then transferring it down to Tyrwhitt House. Hopefully the veterans will be helping at Hampton Court as well as at Tyrwhitt House. The garden is about raising awareness of the problems of PTSD and combat stress as well as doing a useful job at the end of it all rather than being thrown away. We are also trying to get press coverage. And all suggestions are gratefully received.

As for slappers, well I have been called many things but not that recently!!! And although I may be a female running a business I have both male and females working for me and as yet we have had no problems - probably because I can be quite scary as some of my subbies know.

And am always delighted to give suggestions for gardens to be sorted out.... you never know Pacestick if you come to the Hampton Court Show you might get some ideas!!

Just to let you know that due to an anonymous donor and fantastic support from suppliers, friends, public and others we are in a position to take the garden to Hampton Court, buy the plants etc and move everything to Tyrwhitt House. We are, however, still fund raising to get the garden installed at Tyrwhitt House. So a huge huge thank you to all of you who have assisted and followed this. Please do visit us at the Hampton Court Show if you have time! With very very many thanks Dorinda

I vaguely remember hearing a story that gardening had been dropped from "occupational therapy" (if that's what its called these days) by the NHS on the basis that some people wont attend because they get some form of support for assisting with the gardening that they are unable to do at home because of their illness. I don't know if its true or a UM, but anyway, good luck with it!

Gardening, Theraputic,my arrse, I'm worried to F**k about my Tomatos

Forgive my ignorance if I missed this in one of the links: is this part of Gardening Leave or a different organisation running Horticultural Therapy?

Originally Posted by dropshortjock

Forgive my ignorance if I missed this in one of the links: is this part of Gardening Leave or a different organisation running Horticultural Therapy?

No regretfully it is not although it would be great if we could get Gardening Leave operating down here.....

We have designed a garden for the courtyard that has been created with the new build at Tyrwhitt House, Combat Stress' headquarters. Part of this design is going to be shown at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July and once that is over it will be moved to Tyrwhitt House and installed there. The aim is to publicise the work that CS does - Hampton Court is family friendly, and not claustrophobic like Chelsea. The garden has been designed with the veterans and rehabilitation in mind; so good seating areas, privacy, good sight lines, calm and stress free - no running water. I do a fair amount of work with OTs, and design/build gardens for those with traumatic brain injury, neural disabilities etc. So I am afraid I can be deeply boring on the importance of our environment/gardens etc in relieving stress/quality of life etc. But do come and see us - the garden is designed to be walked through..... and the more people who know about PTSD / combat stress and its effects the better.

Originally Posted by eodmatt

I vaguely remember hearing a story that gardening had been dropped from "occupational therapy" (if that's what its called these days) by the NHS on the basis that some people wont attend because they get some form of support for assisting with the gardening that they are unable to do at home because of their illness. I don't know if its true or a UM, but anyway, good luck with it!

Many thanks. It would not surprise me. I do work with a few fairly passionate OTs who realise the importance of gardening and where it fits in with rehabilitation. However, 'targets' 'quantative rather than qualitative' are the words that everything is done by these days, and the importance of 'the view from the window' and working with the land has become less and less important. Hopefully we can start to change this!!!

~Well the garden has started to be constructed - the site is so dry we are covered in dust - you guys are probably more than somewhat used to that. We have had lots of positive feedback about the trees and the design and what is happening. The Combat Stress Therapeutic Garden has been named as one of the recommended gardens to visit at Hampton Court on the RHS website. (So no pressure then!). If you want to see what is going on do visit my website at www.independentgardening.co.uk (and not the link probably wont work as I am a complete idiot over computers - they aren't green and I cannot prune them!)

Today's Telegraph:
Dig for Victory - Telegraph