UK: Community effort set to bloom at Chelsea Flower Show

A Swaffham community allotment and orchard project working to boost mental health is preparing a garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year.

By Ben Hardy
Lynn News
13 April 2019

Family Action’s ESCAPE Allotment and Orchard Community Project at Tumbler Hill in Swaffham. Family Action’s ESCAPE project means volunteers in and around the Swaffham area with mental health issues can learn gardening and horticultural skills. This year, they are involved with creating a garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019.

Between 60 to 80 people participate each week with Family Action’s ESCAPE project with 40 tickets secured for the group to attend the Wednesday of this year’s Chelsea Flower Show to see their garden.

Sarah Smith working on the project. She said she loves coming to the ESCAPE project for the friendships and to avoid sitting on her own thinking negative thoughts. Sarah said she has anxiety and depression but the Family Action ESCAPE project has been her “purpose and focus”.

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