Dementia Gardening

Creating peace and tranquillity for people living with dementia.

 

 

 

A community Interest Company here to help

My name is Heather. I am a garden therapist specialising in small group workshops or one to one gardening with people who are living with dementia and also their caregivers. I can come to your venue with plants, soil and task specific tools and set up my workshops on a table so that everyone can engage in some gentle gardening.

The workshops last about an hour and are fully interactive. I can also work outside with people in a small group in their garden of residence or at a designated community garden (usually my allotment in Bromley). Dementia Garden Is a social cause aimed at helping people with early onset dementia and established dementia enjoy a present moment sensory experience by engaging with plants and soil in a table top garden setting.

Please see my terms and conditions here  ​

 

To book a dementia gardening session

please call me at 07587 698732 and we will have a chat about what you're looking for.

Enquire

 

 

 

 

 

How dementia gardening works

I begin the gardening workshops with a gentle mindful movement sequence which is basically Tai chi and meditation. This can be done sitting down or standing. This helps us to settle and feel a sense of ease before we start the activity. Benefits of social dementia gardening include:

  • Providing a sense of purpose and mindful engagement in the present moment.
  • Positive remembering: e.g. the aroma of Rosemary may remind you/us of preparing meals for loved ones Dexterity and movement - utilising our fine motor skills helps reduce rigidity of the joints.
  • Being present with our senses, the plants and soil: sight, smell, touch, taste and sound keep us in the here and now and evoke a sense of wellbeing and calm.
  • People with Dementia can be active and feel part of the community with this shared gardening experience without the risk of feeling stranded or out of their depth.
  • Increase the visibility of people with dementia so that they can enjoy mindful gardening and interact with their community and continue being a gardener and enjoying gardening.

If you are looking for somebody who understands the healing power of nature and how a garden can work for you, Dementia Garden should be your first port of call. My approach results in healthy gardens that benefit the inhabitants and owners alike, aiding in relaxation, awareness of nature and general wellbeing.

If you are interested in my services, please email me at

 heather@dementiagarden.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

elderly man gardening with plants in pots and enjoying time outdoors gardening activities 1

One to One mindful gardening sessions

If your loved one is living with dementia, a mindful gardening experience in the comfort of their own home can provide calm and connection. At Dementia Garden, we bring the therapeutic benefits of nature directly to your home, creating a tailored, sensory-rich session designed to engage and uplift. We begin by meeting the prospective gardener to explore how best to set up the session, ensuring a personalized and meaningful experience.

Once ready, we can schedule a session that fosters well-being and joy through the simple yet powerful act of gardening.

three people engaged in crafting activity with natural materials creating two handmade items on a wooden table

Tabletop Gardening

With the proper attentiveness and by cultivating a state of mindfulness, the act of gardening can help you tend to your own inner landscape just as you tend to the plants surrounding you.

Tabletop gardening brings all the healing and mindful benefits of gardening to the indoors, combining the essence of nature and the tranquillity of miniature landscapes. This offers a unique and accessible yet engaging way of cultivating serenity within limited spaces, allowing your worries to melt away as you focus your attention to the task at hand and let the repetitive motions calm your mind.

hand gently touching green leaf reflecting healthy plant growth

Garden Meditation

Beyond simple beauty, gardens and nature itself can be a sanctuary for quiet reflection and inner peace. By combining the gentle rhythms of nature with intentional breathing and your five senses, garden meditation can help you let go of distractions and enjoy the present moment.

My approach blends ancient contemplative practices with my understanding of the healing power and positive energy of plants to create a deeply restorative space where you can connect with nature and yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

man potting plants in pots with various types of plants visible through a window in a gardening setting featuring three different plant species

 

 

 

Helping people to heal in Nature

As both a trained therapeutic horticulturist and gardener in Bromley, it's my pleasure to help people realise the healing power of nature and the outdoors through a combination of garden meditation, tabletop gardening and mindful gardening. Dementia gardening is a superb way to help people engage with each other, stay active, and slow the progress of dementia.

 

 

Terms and conditions for garden workshops

1) Attendee-to-carer ratio to be agreed by Heather Collyer and the client in writing before we proceed with the workshops.

2) Attendees and their carers must be present at the workshops. Please inform Heather or a member of the workshop team if you need to leave the workshop for any reason -including bathroom breaks.

3) Heather Collyer holds indemnity Insurance as compliant with all small businesses.

4) Heather Collyer holds an enhanced DBS certificate with the charity MIND.

5) Heather Collyer will invoice the Client and would appreciate prompt payment within 5 working days of the delivery of the workshop.

6) Donations to support the Community Interest are gratefully received and will be re invested in the Community Interest Company - Dementia Garden.

Garden Therapy

 

 

 

 

 

Helping People To Thrive Naturally

My approach as a gardener and therapist is always to look at the garden space as a whole, and try to build on what is already there. In this way we can preserve and enhance the character of the garden together, and help the plants and flowers already there to flourish. A healthy, successful garden benefits the people who inhabit that space too, and helps aid relaxation, awareness of nature, and general wellbeing. This approach is relevant in both gardening and in therapy.

By engaging in dementia gardening workshops, attendees will spend more time outdoors, being active and engaged in the progress of nature, and feel great benefits from that alone, before you even consider the mindfulness and interaction benefits that come from working in a likeminded group.

About Me

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in dementia gardening

get in contact by calling

 07587 698732

 or email me directly at heather@dementiagarden.co.uk

 


See our privacy policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 

 

 

 

Cookie Control