Latest News
Therapeutic Gardening - Summer 2026
As we head into summer, it is a joy to see the garden growing strongly, with the veg beds now fully planted up and the herb and ornamental areas starting to come into flower. Once again we spend our day on Thursdays harvesting for our popular organic veg box scheme, with a discounted price for garden group members. We also continue to supply the Angel Inn in Corbridge with a weekly delivery of veg and fruit.
As the season progresses, we enjoy involving the whole group in preparing a shared lunch from time to time using produce from the garden and encouraging everyone to sample the fruits of their labours. Sampling the first strawberries of the season from our wonderful new polytunnel was a moment to be remembered!
Cooking Together 2026
Preparing a shared meal is always very popular with everyone and some garden group members display great flair in preparing delicious food using produce from the garden. This is a great way to reward ourselves for some of the hard work we put into maintaining the garden and a good opportunity to learn some new recipes that can be taken away and repeated at home. It's also always a companionable activity over which to socialise and share a laugh. We are looking forward to some summer barbeques in the warmer months ahead
Nature-based Arts and Crafts 2026
When we fancy an alternative to gardening we get 'crafty' making a wonderful variety of unusual art creations using materials from the garden and the surrounding countryside. This makes a gentle, relaxing and companionable activity for anyone feeling creatively inspired and has kept our building bright and interesting. Whoever knew that you can preserve dandelion seed heads with hairspray!
Sponsored Walk 2026
On 28 April 2026, the gardening group did a sponsored walk from Blanchland to raise funds to support the project. This involved a shorter and a longer route to meet individual needs and abilities and culminated in a welcome cup of tea and a scone at The Lord Crewe Arms. We all enjoyed the day and all the wildlife and spring plants we spotted along the route. A huge thank you to all who walked and all who sponsored us. We raised a fantastic £1,739 pounds; including GiftAid, this gave a total of £2,091 to support our bursary fund for the year ahead
Celebrating our new polytunnel
Thanks to generous funding from the Truemark Trust, we have realised a long-held dream to install a really large polytunnel (5.5M x 12M) in the Peace Garden. This now provides us with an all-year-round indoor growing space that can be used for a wide range of activities with the whole gardening team. We are enjoying watching our first crops start to grow in this wonderful new space.
We also received funding for an extra tall raised bed suitable for anyone with mobility issues or in a wheelchair. We are delighted that this will help to support us in being as inclusive as possible in what we offer.
Our wonderful Sanctuary building is still available for hire by third parties as an alternative workshop space or away day venue. The building has a small kitchen, wood burner and the poshest compost loo you have ever come across! It's simple, cosy and the setting is truly idyllic. Cost £50/half day or £100/full day. All proceeds go towards maintaining the building to support our gardening therapy work. For more information on hiring the building or to check dates, do contact us
Sanctuary Hire
We now have a JustGiving donations page, which makes it easy to support the work that we do with people living with mental health and learning difficulties, some of whom may be unable to work and may not be eligible for statutory funding to cover their attendance at gardening therapy sessions. Every little makes a difference and we are very grateful for every contribution we receive.
To make a donation now, please click here
Funding update
As a registered charity, Let's Get Growing is committed to keeping its therapeutic horticulture service available to all, regardless of financial circumstances. The majority of participants attending our gardening therapy days are able to access a personal budget or direct payment. Those who are not supported through the NHS can apply to our bursary fund, as we have a clear policy of welcoming all, irrespective of personal means. The nature of the beneficiary groups with whom we work means that some charitable funding is therefore needed to support our work. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, the Truemark Trust, the Shears Foundation. the Healey Community Environment Fund and the Community Foundation for generously supporting us in 2025.