The new team at Muddy Fork, Retford’s ‘Gardening for Wellbeing’ charity based at the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, is now looking forward to the start of the planting season and hoping to recruit extra pairs of hands to support their efforts in 2022. If, as the days start to lengthen again, you feel you would benefit from spending time out of doors, enjoying productive activity in a beautiful natural environment and in congenial company, they would love to hear from you.
Muddy Fork is seeking both participants whose wellbeing would be enhanced through engagement with their programme, and volunteers to support their groups, which currently run for three hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with different people attending on different days. They welcome people from across Bassetlaw.
There is now a valuable body of evidence confirming the positive impact on mental wellbeing of projects such as this, and as such the group receives referrals from a wide range of sources, including GPs, mental health professionals and other agencies. They are also happy to take self-referrals.
Activities involved go beyond gardening, with participants having the opportunity to get involved in beekeeping, willow-weaving and other crafts, and the tree nursery, and to share their own experience or learn new skills. The variety of activities available means that a range of physical abilities can be accommodated – someone else will gladly do the heavy-duty digging while you put seeds into pots, if that’s the way you like it!
Muddy Fork welcomes enquiries from prospective volunteers who could support the sessions alongside their very committed existing team. An interest in and some experience of gardening, and / or crafting with natural materials, would obviously be assets and the right approach is essential – a friendly, supportive attitude with an awareness of mental health issues and a sensitivity to the needs of participants.
For more details on sessions and on referrals, visit www.muddyfork.org or contact 01777 567005 or enquiries@muddyfork.org. A preliminary chat and a visit to the garden can be arranged, which could lead to a regular slot in your diary, improved health and new friendships. Do get in touch!