Sowing seeds, potting on, planting out, weeding, preparing beds
About the garden
A walled garden, vineyard, and woodland over 7 acres for growing, making, creating, a sanctuary for recovery.
A year in the garden
Across the seasons there is a wide variety of tasks, everything involved in caring for and maintaining the garden and site as well as opportunities for creativity and to pause and reflect.
Spring
Summer
Cut flowers, watering, weeding, harvesting, mowing lawns
Autumn
Harvesting, planting bulbs, saving seeds, clearing and tidying the site
Winter
Pruning, cutting back, dividing perennials, planning for next season
Testimonials
The garden is a unique setting, a safe, welcoming working environment
Everybody, whether they have mental health challenges or not, should be allowed to visit at least once. It is a magical oasis of calm and wonderfulness.
Former gardener
Bridewell is a stunningly beautiful place to be – wonderful to feel part of it – even if one does not want to do ‘gardening’ jobs. It is very calming and restorative and it’s nice to have a mixture of jobs available that are more physically challenging than others.
Former Gardener
18 months
The garden itself is a peaceful, tranquil, safe, inviting environment
Gardener
Peaceful space, beautiful to look at and wonderful to feel part of. When you get on site a strong feeling of calm descends.
Gardener
6 months
It’s beautiful, serene, sometimes magical. In every season it has a unique way of looking gorgeous and feeling very safe. The experience of turning up while the hot border is at its peak, or seeing the iridescence of the dragonflies zipping across the pond, is unmatched.
Former Gardener
2 years
The colours, the smells, the sights of the garden just took you to another place.
Former gardener
Learn more about Bridewell
Read experiences of people who have accessed Bridewell's recovery service, and find out what happens in the gardens
