Powys Patients’ Council - Growing a Garden

"Time and activity in Nature is good for us."

by Owen Griffkin, Powys Patients' Council Facilitator

One of the requests that comes up regularly when we hold Patients’ Council sessions on the Felindre Acute Mental Health ward in south Powys is gardening activities. Unfortunately until recently this has been difficult to organise due to health and safety reasons but we have been speaking to the occupational therapist on the ward, Millie Griffiths, about ways in which this could be provided.

I am a big believer in the power of gardening to improve mental and physical health and advocate for people to use ‘The Five Ways to Wellbeing’ to do this. In my view it helps you achieve all the goals in the Five Ways, (be active, take notice, keep learning, connect with others and give). It’s a skill that people can take with them when they leave the ward, and maybe join one of the many local groups to help their recovery. At the bottom of this article I have listed some local groups you can get involved with.

This is why we have been so keen to see activities on the ward, and we are delighted that Millie has been working hard to get regular gardening sessions on the ward recently. We asked Millie to give a quick overview of what they have been doing. 

MIllie Griffiths — Mental Health Occupational Therapist

In June 2020 there was an enclosed garden situated between Felindre Ward and Defynnog Ward which was unused. 

The old garden

We had no gardening group on the ward and research published in the Mental Health Journal has shown gardening as being able to “reduce stress and improve mood with a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety,” (Thrive - a charity that has been using social therapeutic horticulture and gardening to change people’s lives since 1979). You can read more about why gardening is good for your mental wellbeing on the Thrive website.

Using Sir Captain Tom Moore Covid funds we were able to purchase planters and a plastic greenhouse which has enabled us to facilitate a gardening group for patients on Felindre Ward. We have been able to grow vegetables which we have then used in cooking groups, as well as flowers. This has enabled us to promote healthy living and spending time outside, as well as providing patients with a better outlook when they look out of their window.

From garden to kitchen!

On the ward we have weekly patient meetings, as well as fortnightly Patients' Council meetings, where it has been frequently suggested by patients that we have a gardening group. Due to the expression of interest, unused space, and research into gardening and mental health, we set up the group. I am not a gardener, nor do I know much, however through the use of Google, books and other staff/patients’ knowledge we have been able to set up the group which we hope to continue to develop to create a space patients can enjoy.

Community gardens across Powys

If you would like to get involved in a gardening project near you here are some you can try out:

Brecon & District Mind's Green Minds Project in Brecon Cathedral and other areas in South Powys.

Read more about this project on our separate blogpost - Green Minds Ecotherapy Project - South Powys

Photo credit: Laura Tranter

Llandrindod Community Garden/Transition Project - Runs a community orchard/pomarium and food garden as well as holding regular meetings to improve sustainability in Llandrindod Wells.

Newtown - Cultivate: Cultivate is a cooperative, run by volunteers and employees who are dedicated to supporting a resilient local food economy.

Newtown - Ponthafren: Regular gardening activities - details on their new activities calendar.

Ystradgynlais - The volunteers will be returning to the community garden project that was on the hospital grounds very soon. Watch this space, or keep an eye on local bulletins, for more info.

Machynlleth - Gerddi Bro Ddyfi Gardens provides and promotes a therapeutic community wildlife garden for all people in the Bro Ddyfi area, and especially those at risk of social exclusion. They will be restarting activities after a Covid break soon.

We would love to hear what you think about the benefits of therapeutic gardening and if you have joined in any of the activities at these community gardens. Comment below and also suggest other gardens you know where people could volunteer.

A peaceful patio at Felindre Ward

Welsh Three Peaks challenge: raising morale, money & mental health awareness

 

Jamie Love works for the Newtown-based yacht company Makefast as the Health, Safety and Facilities Manager. Earlier this month he and 23 intrepid colleagues decided to take on the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for three nominated charities (raising more than £3,500 so far), one of which is the north Powys-based mental health charity Ponthafren Association.

After spotting details of their adventures on social media, we decided to find out more about the company’s motivation in taking on the challenge, and what they learnt from their experience.

Jamie Love, Makefast's Health, Safety & Facilities Manager

First of all, what is the Three Peaks Challenge?

There are three different Three Peaks Challenges – a national one, a Welsh one and a Yorkshire route. We decided to take on the Welsh challenge which is ascending Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. These are the highest peaks in Wales and include a total walking distance of 17 miles (27.4km) and an ascent of 2334 metres (7657ft). We talked about doing it in 24 hours.

What inspired you to take on the Challenge as a group of work colleagues?

After joining the company in October 2020 as Health, Safety & Facilities Manager I realised that because our staff are split between 2 buildings, there was an opportunity to bring people together and connect on a personal level as well as through their working day.

It was all about trying to find an event to get everyone together and this seemed to meet the bill. People have different fitness levels so there was definitely that sense of connection that you get with people supporting each other.

Llyn Llydaw on the route up Snowdon

Did you do much training prior to the Challenge?

As a runner myself I already take part in a lot of different events as do a few of my colleagues. However, the group was predominantly made up of people who went from doing nothing to doing some serious training for the Three Peaks.

Staff members trained at weekends and evenings, mainly by walking. We started initially in November 2020 when the Challenge was first announced. Training really picked up around March this year and when the weather started to improve, and the days were longer, we were able to get out even more.

It brought a lot of families together during the period of the Covid lockdown. People took their kids out walking and explored places that were local to them that they hadn’t seen before.

Tell us about the Challenge. How did it go?

It was hard work! It was really really good though! We set off at 6pm on the free coach (with driver!) provided by Tanat Valley Coaches and headed up to North Wales. Immediately as we started up Snowdon you could see groups forming of different people. Some were faster and headed off ahead with the slower groups at the back with a back marker.

The weather was quite bad - heavy rain and strong winds. Plus, the first ascent was through the night! But we made it! We finally finished at about 2.30am and were back on the coach for something to eat and drink before heading straight down to mountain number two - Cadair Idris.

Success on summiting Snowdon! 

On arrival at Cadair Idris the weather was even worse – the wind was more intense as we set off at 3am. Cadair Idris is not as high as Snowdon but a longer walk and definitely more challenging. It’s a lot more demanding on your body and we’d already done Snowdon. We picked up a few injuries along the way - people’s knees were aching by this point and some had blisters.

We arrived back at the bus after a successful climb and at 9am the driver took us straight down to South Wales to complete Pen Y Fan. Luckily the weather had eased off a lot by then. There was hardly any rain and it’s a bit easier – more of a steady walk. We took the route up from The Storey Arms and headed up over Corn Du to the summit. We talked a few strangers into sponsoring us up there and then took a different route back down to finish at 3.30pm. I had my dog Gilly, a springer spaniel, with me all the way – she runs everywhere with me!

Even with the travel back up to Newtown we’d completed the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge in 23 hours in total. One of the group needed help coming down from Cadair Idris having injured their knee but everyone else made it. Back at base at Makefast we enjoyed celebratory drinks and a hog roast, and handed out medals and certificates.

What was the most challenging part of the Challenge?

Probably Cadair Idris was the hardest part – it was definitely the longest. On a good day it’s one of the best walks to do as the views are amazing. But the weather and the time of day made it the hardest of the lot. Everyone would probably agree – people were cursing me for dragging them out! But at the end everyone was really proud of themselves for completing the climb.

What was the most rewarding part of the Challenge?

For me it was getting off the bus at the end and seeing everyone really happy and positive about what they’d done. Even though there were complaints of sore bodies and tiredness there was no one without a smile on their face.

Now I can see people round the factory walking past and talking to each other where before they just walked past and paid no attention. The Challenge definitely had the effect I wanted it to in bringing people together. Even people who didn’t take part played their part by talking about it and getting involved in it.

They made it! The summit at Pen y Fan

How did you choose the three charities that would benefit?

All three charities were chosen by the people taking part in the event whose lives have been affected in some way and helped by these charities.

Macmillan - a lot of people in the workplace have been affected by cancer – either themselves or their loved ones.

Designability – they make powered wheelchairs for physically disabled children. A small charity that played a big part in one of the team’s lives.

Ponthafren Association – I wanted to do something for a mental health charity. The whole challenge focused around mental health and wellbeing – bringing people together and lifting morale. I’m a mental health first aider – I was in the army and dealt with a different side of mental health in the forces. It’s a huge part of my life and something I’ve been conscious of through my whole working career from the age of 16. Ponthafren being local - and knowing the work they do – it couldn’t have been a better choice for me.

What was it like taking on the Challenge as a large team group?

Harder than I thought! When I first had the idea I thought it be easy – a walk in the hills for few people.

But there was a lot to think about - like making sure people had the right type of kit to cope with the different weather conditions. It was making sure people were aware of that, and checking they had the right food and nutrition.

I gave myself plenty of time to organise things which was good. And I couldn’t have asked for more support from Makefast. All the directors supported us all the way. They paid for all the food and the medals. They did so much.

How does taking part in a Challenge like this help reduce the stigma regarding mental health in our community?

When we started planning we asked people which charities they’d like to support. Many were not aware of Ponthafren. Once you explain it to them it leads on to more conversations about mental health.

Also people realised that doing something can help them feel proud of themselves. Suddenly they’re all talking positively and they know they can talk about mental health. I had my GoPro camera on for about 80% of the walk. Listening back there were lots of conversations that revolved around mental health. People realised that they can talk and that people will listen. It doesn’t need to be a trained counsellor you can talk to anyone about mental health. It’s helped a lot in that way.

What impact did taking on the Challenge have on your own and your colleagues’ mental health & wellbeing?

For myself it made me realise that I can do more than I thought through organising things, by bringing people together. I felt really good about myself. Doing something for so many people.

Everyone else has realised how much of a benefit getting outdoors helps. Lot of people have taken time out for themselves this year which has really benefitted them. Taking just half an hour a day to yourself can really help. You don’t have to shut yourself away from your family you can go for a walk. That’s all we really did was go for a walk.

Do you have any tips for other organisations or companies planning to take on a similar challenge?

Do it! Just don’t think about it. Just do it. Pick a challenge. Set a date. Go for it!

We’ll be doing something every year now with a focus on mental health.

I’ve had a few ideas about possible walks / challenges / camping trips / boat themed ideas to tie in with the company’s work. And we’ll be working on it for 2022’s challenge. So watch this space!

Big thanks to Jamie Love for telling us all about Makefast’s experience taking on the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge. You can still donate on the Makefast Sponsor Me page and see more photographs on the Makefast Facebook page.