Gardening to soothe the soul

An exciting new gardening project has been launched to develop horticulture skills and knowledge while revamping and improving disused poly-tunnels.

The investment into the poly-tunnel site comes from The Cornwall College Groups (TCCG), Community Health Project; Your Road to Wellbeing.

This project offers a wide range of short courses aimed at adults to improve their wellbeing and mental ill health.

“This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in our gardening project at our St Austell campus,” stated Tina Fox, Community Health Programme Manager at TCCG.

“The site has been cleared and the poly-tunnels have new plastic covering, ready for our course starting in January.

“This courses could be ideal for you if you are looking for a new beginning, an opportunity to improve your self-worth, or a positive distraction from worries and anxiety.”

Learners will find out how to plant seeds, propagate and grow a variety of plants, herbs and vegetables whilst being mindful of the local habitats and conservation.

Your Road to Wellbeing courses are designed to aid personal, social, and vocational development and employability skills. Individuals signing-up to a courses will start at a stage appropriate to their personal situation and will progress at a pace that suits their own recovery, supporting them to go on and lead a fulfilling and healthy life.

“Whatever you’re interested in, our courses are great mood-boosters, and will help you develop your creative, practical and communications skills,” commented Tina.

“We offer a wide range of short courses, at our Camborne, St Austell and Falmouth campuses and throughout the local community at NHS Resource Centres, Bodmin Hospital, Longreach Hospital, at Crop Gardens in Plymouth.”

Courses run one day per week, over 10 to 13 weeks per term. If you miss the start of the course don’t worry, you can join the courses at any time.

Your Road to Wellbeing courses include, art, arts and craft, creative crafts, ceramics, gardening and horticulture.

The courses are free to anyone aged 19 plus who suffers, or who is recovering from mental ill health. People in receipt of benefits and for people on a low income. They are also free for those who are looking to gain the confidence and experience to progress onto a Level 2 qualification.

TCCG works in partnership with the NHS Foundation Trust, to offer a wide range of courses which aim to support recovery from mental ill health through engagement with learning from the early stages of recovery through to preparation for employment.

To find out more or to book a place on Cornwall College’s gardening course at St Austell or any other courses within the Community Health, Your Road to Wellbeing project contact The Cornwall College Group on 0330 123 2523 equiries@cornwall.ac.uk www.cornwall.ac.uk/your-road-to-wellbeing.