Despite an exceptionally hot summer, our Garden Project continued to flourish thanks to the dedication of the people we support, our employee team and garden volunteers. The prolonged heat meant our market gardening sessions often had to be adapted, with earlier starts, shorter days and occasional cancellations to ensure everyone stayed safe. Volunteers from Sustainable Wantage and residents from one of our supported living houses stepped in to help with extra watering, while the team introduced new measures including additional water butts and irrigation systems to help the gardens cope with future dry spells.

At Green Acre, demand for some maintenance work reduced as gardens became dormant in the heat, the team used the time to complete training, research future planting schemes and prepare for the months ahead.

The year so far has been packed with memorable activities and events. Spring and summer saw gardeners sowing vegetables, flowers and fruits, creating Easter willow wreaths, and welcoming students from Fitzwaryn School for shared gardening sessions. Our popular Spring Wellbeing Day brought together meditation, willow weaving, massage therapies and a smoothie bike, inspiring two attendees to join our regular gardening sessions. Open Days at the Market Garden also welcomed families and community members to enjoy activities ranging from pond dipping and bug hotel making to plant sales and wildlife discovery.

One of the highlights of the growing season was the incredible variety of produce grown and harvested. Gardeners nurtured around 25 different varieties of tomatoes, celebrated with a special tomato-tasting event featuring sourdough and mozzarella. People also took great pride in looking after their own raised beds, adding personal touches through colourful decorations and planting schemes. Wildlife continued to thrive too, with gardeners delighted to spot a hummingbird hawk-moth and learn more about the ivy bees that made one of our polytunnels their home this year.  We have also worked with Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust to deliver a Nature Buddies project to support people to enjoy nature through planting activities and mindfulness walks.

As autumn has arrived, our gardeners are busy harvesting, mulching, composting and preparing for winter. An Autumn Wellbeing Day brought a cosy seasonal atmosphere with yoga, storytelling, crafts, sensory activities, soup and scones, while a second Open Day welcomed visitors for plant sales, refreshments and a fascinating talk from Wild Wantage. As we move into winter, our focus will turn to seed saving, nature-based crafts, wildlife projects and preparing for another exciting growing season.

Through every season, the Garden Project continues to provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to learn new skills, build confidence, make friends and experience the many wellbeing benefits of gardening and spending time in nature.