Grow Your Roots- A Therapeutic Garden Project

Description

A collaborative project involving HSE OT service, office of the General Manager (HSE) and Four Districts Day Centre Rathcoole (Section 39) was initiated. The potential venue identified for the group was an underutilised green site surrounding Rathcoole Health Centre and adjoining Four Districts Day Centre. Partnership with the manager in the day centre was central to the development of the group and her motivation and enthusiasm to assist was significant in the project’s success.
Following recruitment/ advertising in City West Hotel, the inaugural gardening group took place on the 7th June 2024, with 15 plus Ukrainian refugees (60 yrs plus) arriving to get to work with designing, planting, tidying and developing the garden area. The group meets once per week for 2-3 hours always finishing with a cup of tea and chance to connect and often a new face. The group decide what they want to work on and what should be prioritised.
To enhance the project and further develop the garden HSE Spark Seed funding of 5K was successfully obtained. Raised beds and a polytunnel were installed in January 2025. Residual SPARK funding was merged with GM office funding to improve the accessibility of the green space for those attending the day centre and anyone with mobility issues.
Results: Initial group satisfaction ratings completed in September 2024 indicated that those attending the group were benefiting from the physical, mental and social aspect of the group. For some, the group was identified as the only organised activity they were engaging in outside of the hotel. Re-engagement in gardening as a meaningful pastime and being in nature was reported as hugely beneficial in more recent testimonials.
Other outcomes of this project has been the development of an accessible therapeutic garden space with a 50metre mobility path, seating area with mindfulness space and the ‘Grow Your Roots’ polytunnel and orchard. This is a resource for the entire community. The project has seen partnership with local community groups/ businesses/volunteers and has fostered a sense of collaboration throughout.
Example of Recent Testimonials (May 2025) : “I am a gardener with more than 30 years’ experience I am so happy that I am involved in this project. We have planted many different trees, shrubs, flowers, berries and we look after then. My health problems are not problems anymore. I am full of energy and feel much better about myself…”

“I am a lady 80+ years old and it is not easy to start a new life at this stage in my life but I can’t just sit around and do nothing. (I was) Invited to participate in the garden project and happily agreed. I met lots of new and very kind people because of this project. Working on the land makes me feel better and happier. I am forever grateful to Ireland and its people who opened the doors to many new and eventful opportunities…

Aim of Initiative

‘- To provide an outlet to older people living in the City West campus to access meaningful and purposeful activity
– To provide a health promotional activity through ‘occupation’ where the focus was not necessarily on language but was on ‘doing’
– To support access to integrate into the local community through activity
– To create a welcoming and inclusive environment for older Ukrainians and older local people to meet/ mix and share cultures in the space afforded by the garden
– To create an outdoor environment accessible to all levels of mobility to enjoy the garden space’

Who is it aimed at

‘- older Ukrainian adults living in the local community
– older people of any other nationality that are interested in attending
– older people attending the Four Districts Day Centre in Rathcoole
– Multi generational potential’

3 Steps critical to success

1. Getting the support to create the group from line manager and collaboration with the day centre management and permission to use the site
2. Translator assistance and how to advertise successfully to potential group members
3. Buy in from group members and support to develop their own roles and responsibilities within the group

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Funding- initial finding required for plants/ equipment and then the poly tunnel
2. Staffing and need for OT presence in the initial months of the project in the beginning – the time commitment was initially high
3. Managing the budget with regards design and value for money for the mobility path and seated area

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Positive impact on Grow Your Roots group members – the positive physical and mental impact of engaging in the activity of gardening and a sense of purpose and meaning that was developed in the project (see testemonials)
2. Development of the garden space to allow access for all- the opportunity for the day centre members to be able to access the man part of the garden and to engage in physical activity of walking and exercise in the space
3. Collaborative approach between all organizations and stakeholders and the general community. The project has had an unexpected impact with regards the general public in the area who now come to donate flowers and shrubs and some who engage in voluntary gardening/ maintaining of the space