We are delighted to be hosting a Great Garden Tea Party during Mental Health Awareness Week on Saturday 14th May from 2-5pm to raise funds for the Sheltered Work Opportunities Project at Cherry Tree Nursery and Chestnut Nursery and help tackle loneliness. Please come along and join us! Everyone is welcome.
As soon as our Office Manager Rachael spotted the Great Garden Party campaign, she knew it was something we would want to support. The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year is loneliness which affects millions of people in the UK every year, from teenagers to the elderly and everyone in-between. It is a key driver of poor mental health.
Particularly during the pandemic, many people struggled with loneliness.
Yet research has proved the benefits of spending time with nature on our mental health, including spending time in our gardens. Research led by the University of Exeter found that spending two hours in nature a week can significantly boost your health and wellbeing. According to the mental health charity Mind, doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can improve your mood, reduce feelings of stress or anger, improve your physical health and self-esteem and reduce loneliness.
“Mental Health is a topic close to our hearts. We are keen to do what we can to help raise funds for this fantastic local charity. During the pandemic, having a garden was a huge help for our mental and physical health. But we know many people weren’t so lucky to have that access to outdoor space. We’re really looking forward to hosting this event and bringing people together.”
Rachael Penny, Office Manager
The event at our showsite next to Stewarts Garden Centre in Christchurch, Dorset, is totally free to attend. We simply ask you to give a donation of whatever you can in exchange for your delicious tea and cake! Doggie treats will also be provided so please feel free to bring your four-legged best friend with you.
Huge thanks go out to the generous team at The Noisy Lobster Bakery.
They are kindly donating some of their delicious flapjacks, brownies and cupcakes for you to enjoy at our Great Garden Tea Party.
Located close by on beautiful Avon Beach, the Noisy Lobster Deli, Shop & Bakery is open all year round. In the Deli you can find delicious Cured Seafood, Sauces, Condiments & Butters all made in the Noisy Lobster kitchens. They also stock a range of local producers, freshly baked bread and even their own blend of coffee. The bakery offers fresh homemade bread, cakes and other treats made daily. They also make special celebration cakes to order.
Thanks also go to our friends at Stewarts Garden Centres
The coffee shop at their Christchurch Garden Centre is kindly donating some scrumptious scones for you to enjoy for your afternoon tea.
Located just next to our show site, the Garden Centre offers a wide range of quality gardening products and services and friendly, down to earth advice. Proud to be a family-run business (like us!) they have been plant growers since 1742 and still maintain their roots of growing their own plants to sell within their garden centres.
If you can’t make it along to our event or would like to host your own garden party, you can find out more at https://swop-garden-party.eventbrite.co.uk. Everybody can get involved in some way. It doesn’t matter if your garden is large or small, a patio or balcony. It’s about sharing a cuppa, spending some time with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours and raising some funds to support local people with mental health issues.
We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday 14th May between 2 and 5pm.
Do let us know if you have any dietary requirements, so we can make sure we have catered for you.
