Bakersville and PSYPHER Allotments’ Open Day 2024

We were delighted to host an Allotment Open Day at Tavistock Street, Hull, on August 20^th. This was an event dedicated to fostering wellbeing through nature and community gardening.

This open day aimed to showcase how the allotments on Tavistock Street are an invaluable local resource for improving wellbeing and encouraging a healthier lifestyle.

Visitors had the chance to tour the allotment spaces and learn about the variety of health benefits linked to horticulture. Trust staff were on hand to provide information on how activities like gardening can support conditions such as anxiety, depression, and chronic physical ailments.

Bakersville is an Occupational Therapy facilitated allotment community group that has been running for over 24 years. This has been spearheaded by Jeanette Wood, an Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor and the wider Occupational Therapy staff. The allotment started with a single plot and had since expanded, with the PSYPHER (Psychosis Service for People in Hull and East Riding) team, led by Ian Ashcroft, Care Coordinator, and Nathan Turner, Recovery Worker, taking on the original plot two years ago. Their aim is to continue the positive impact Jeanette has made over the years in the local community.

Jeanette expanded the allotment further taking over an additional plot across from the original plot extending down to the gate entrance. Reflecting on the work done, during the open day, Jeanette shared that the allotment serves as a therapeutic intervention, helping individuals build routine, confidence, and self-esteem. She explained, “It’s not unusual for people to return to the allotment after discharge, asking if they can come back”. The program typically lasts nine months, structured in three phases: building routine, gaining confidence, and preparing for life after the program. However, many participants find it difficult to leave and seek similar environments once their time at the allotment ends. Jeanette emphasised, “We’re only here on Tuesdays for a few hours, but the impact goes beyond that.”

The link between accessing nature/green spaces and mental wellbeing is highly evidenced, in 2023 the Bakersville Allotment group and the service users had the opportunity in 2023 to be part of the Hey Smiles Foundation Service Evaluation to contribute to the wider NHSE evidence. The finding from the Service Evaluation has supported the ongoing funding to develop community green space projects in the local community.

Across Humber we have the opportunity to offer our services users access to green spaces across our East Riding (Bridlington and Driffield, Holderness and Haltemprice) and Hull CMHT’s, PSYPHER, Humber Centre as well as offering access to green spaces across some of our Mental Health Inpatient areas, if anyone is interested in referring in to the community based services please speak with the Occupational Therapists in the services mentioned.

Mental Health service users are often supported by Occupational Therapists who support the wellbeing of patients through meaningful activities and identifying strengths and challenges experienced. One form of Occupational Therapy can be using outdoor spaces and interactions with nature. For this purpose, the Trust runs allotments, including the Bakersville and PSYPHER allotments in Hull.

Catherine Ceely, Voluntary Services Lead, highlighted the long-term benefits of the allotment. “Quite often, people who complete the program choose to stay on as volunteers, using their lived experience to support others,” she said. Joel, a former service user, exemplifies this. He initially got involved through his studies at Hull University and has now been volunteering for seven years. “There’s always a sense of continuity with new people coming in and those who’ve been here helping them,” Joel noted.

One of the current service users, Sarah, shared her experience: “I started coming last autumn, so it’s been nearly a year. I’ve seen the seasons change and met different people, which has been nice for establishing a routine.” Sarah particularly enjoys picking fruit, although she noted that sometimes the bugs got to the strawberries before she could. While Sarah has loved her time at the allotment, she recently secured a new job in Sheffield as a Peer Support Worker within the NHS. “This group gave me the confidence to go for it,” she said, though she expressed regret that her new job will prevent her from returning regularly.

PSYPHER, the service for people in Hull and East Riding who have experienced psychosis, was initially designed for young people but now serves those aged 14 to 65. The team have been working diligently to establish their plot over the past two years. Despite only having eight participants so far, they are optimistic about growing the program in the years to come.

The Bakersville and PSYPHER allotments continue to provide a vital space for recovery, growth, and community for those who need it most, ensuring that the positive impact of these therapeutic interventions extends well beyond the garden’s gates.

Some of the feedback generated from the Bakersville allotment group on their experiences in general are provided below.

Fur further information on the Bakersville allotment, please contact jeanette.wood6@nhs.net and for more information on the PSYPHER allotments, please contact ian.ashcroft@nhs.net or nathan.turner2@nhs.net.