Growing Minds
Growing Minds is our 6-week Allotment-based Ecotherapy group, designed by Derbyshire Mind and Derby County Community Trust.
Growing Minds is our 6 week Allotment-based Ecotherapy group taking place in Chaddesden on Tuesday Evenings, designed in partnership with Derby County Community Trust.
This free new course has been designed to help you de-stress and experience the wellbeing benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables this summer whilst coming together as a community.
What is Growing Minds?
Growing Minds is a free 6-week course taking place in our wonderful community allotment space in Derwent/Chaddesden. This group will enable you to get creative, de-stress, and learn how to help nature grow and blossom. There are 6 weekly sessions you can book onto between August and September, all sessions designed to boost your mood and support your mental wellbeing.
Led by Derby County Community Trust’s Green Activities Officer and supported by our Peer Support Volunteer, the group will be invited to join in with a range of enjoyable and interesting allotment-based activities centred around resourceful growing, utilising your senses, and connecting with nature.
You will leave at the end of the session feeling part of a shared community, feeling more relaxed, having learnt a new skill and feeling able to continue to use the benefits of nature to support your mental health from home.
How does Allotment-based Ecotherapy help with our wellbeing?
Spending time in a allotment and being surrounded by nature has been shown to reduce stress and promote relaxation. The act of gardening itself can be meditative, allowing you to focus on the present moment and disconnect from daily worries.
Being in the fresh air, getting your hands in the soil, and witnessing the growth of plants can foster a sense of peace, grounding, and appreciation for the natural world. Successfully growing your own vegetables can provide a strong sense of achievement. The process of nurturing a plant from seed to harvest can boost self-esteem and confidence, and then you can take your veg home and enjoy it!
Group Details:
Dates: Every Tuesday evening from Tuesday 8th August, to Tuesday 12th September 2023
Times: 5.30pm till 7.30pm
Location: Little Chester Allotments, Old Mansfield Road, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 4SA.
Who is the group for? All sessions are open to adults (18+) who are experiencing common mental health symptoms such as low mood, worry and anxiety, stress, loneliness, and wish to improve their mental wellbeing.
Cost: All sessions are free (funded through our fundraising work)
Group Leaders: Sessions are run by the super friendly Danni and Lucas from Derby County Community Trust.
Additional Support: One of our supportive Derbyshire Mind peer support volunteers will also be there to welcome and support you.
At your Own Pace: The group provides a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere, and all activities are optional. You can sit back with a cup of tea and soak up the peace and quiet of the allotment space if you prefer. Or have a chat with our Peer Support volunteer who is specially trained to listen and not try to fix.
What if the weather is bad? We will be there every week for the 6 weekly sessions come rain or shine. There is plenty of space to relax in the shade if it is sunny, and there is also cover in our big wooden hut if the rain pours.
Where is Growing Minds Held?
Growing Minds is held at:
Little Chester Allotments, Old Mansfield Road, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 4SA.
Arriving by Car:
It takes about 10 minutes to drive here from Derby City Centre. There is parking at the front of the allotments near the big gates. You will see a sign above the turn for the car park that says “Little Chester Allotments”.
If the car park is ever full, you can park on the street that runs along side the allotment where you are not blocking anyone’s drive.
Arriving by Public Transport:
The Number 24 bus service operates between Derby and Chaddesden and stops outside Hampshire Road – There is a short walk from the bus stop to the allotment.
Accessibility:
If you have any accessibility requirements, please do get in touch with us so we can support you.
Book your Free Place(s)
We would love for you to join us on an upcoming Growing Minds session and see for yourself the wellbeing benefits of growing our own fruit and vegetables this summer! Join us on our community allotment plot and see how connecting with nature in this way can really help our mental health.
Book your free place(s) online by clicking the links below:
Growing Minds Session One – Tuesday 8th August, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Growing Minds Session Two – Tuesday 15th August, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Growing Minds Session Three – Tuesday 22nd August, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Growing Minds Session Four – Tuesday 29th August, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Growing Minds Session Five – Tuesday 5th September, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Growing Minds Session Six – Tuesday 12th September, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
The DCCT website will require you to create an account Alternatively, you can email us at community@derbyshiremind.org.uk and our team will book you on to your preferred date, and answer any questions you may have.
Once you have booked a place, we will send you further information about the session in advance via email.
Our Growing Minds Partners
We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Derby County Community Trust to deliver the Growing Minds Project.
Danielle and Lucas who will be leading the course are an experienced Green Activities Officer and a Physical Activity & Health Support Officer.
Learn more about Derby County Community Trust by visiting their website:
https://www.derbycountycommunitytrust.com
