Martineau Gardens forms a therapeutic environment of over two acres of organically maintained land, two miles from the city centre. The Gardens include a substantial wildlife area, formal gardens, a vegetable plot, an orchard and herb beds. Martineau Gardens has been looking after the site with a wide range of volunteers since 1997. The volunteers look after the Gardens creating a safe and welcoming place where the people of Birmingham and beyond can connect to nature and improve their wellbeing.

We have established a friendly, respectful culture where the volunteers support and encourage one another. Gardening together provides an opportunity for talking and listening to other people. Working with the natural cycles of sowing, nurturing, harvesting and surviving the winter can help vulnerable people to learn from experience that they can help things to grow, and eat the result in some cases. They also learn from the fact that sometimes things don’t work out, but next year you can try again.