How does your garden grow?

Hattersley Community Big Garden project does exactly what it says on the tin and brings young and old together to encourage them to go green and get growing.

But there’s far more to the project than just growing amazing plants and produce.

The project is playing a key role in helping with people’s health and wellbeing after teaming up with the Healthy Hyde team.

The team is a collaboration between eight local medical practices, including Mottram, Hollingworth, the four practices in Hyde, plus Hattersley and Dukinfield.

The Tameside Radio Outside Broadcast team, Mark Andrews and Andrew Richardson, caught up with the project to find out more recently, talking with Dr Jane Harvey from the Healthy Hyde group.

She explained: “We wanted to break down the medical model, so rather than looking at the usual treatments, we wanted to look more holistically at people’s lives and reconnect them back with their community as we believe that is all a part of people’s health and wellbeing.

“We have a project manager and medical staff including nurses as part of the team, but have connected with the garden project and rent some allotment space.

“We have two health and wellbeing workers so we can connect people with long term conditions who may not be looking after themselves so well, to help them improve their health by coming out of doors, using their hands, learning new skills and getting back into a healthier lifestyle.”

GREEN TEAM: Andrew, right, talks to Jane and Des at the Hattersley-based garden project to find out more about its healthy aims. 

The OB team also spoke with garden project key worker Penny Rothwell.

She said education and mental health were key elements at the ‘miniature oasis’ situated literally at the heart of Hattersley.

The centre also sells its own plants and produce to enable it to be self-funding.

Exciting developments are on the cards, with other projects in the making including the creation of a sensory garden, opening a tea room and establishing a forest school for school children and scouting groups. 

“We have lots of different projects here and it is a real community hub and family,” added Penny, explaining people of all ages come together to learn new skills and to work together.

To get involved you can visit the Hattersley garden centre off Hattersley Road West between 10am-1pm in the week (closed Sundays) or visit their Facebook site.