Meet Peter, a 64-year-old volunteer at the Harmony Garden.

Though a new member, he is already enjoying the benefits of the small garden community. 

As someone with limited mobility due to a disability, he has often felt excluded from experiences that involve physical activity. However, after being welcomed at the Harmony Garden, he feels quite the opposite – embraced and appreciated. 

I'm not excluded because I'm disabled; no one judges you there and it makes me feel safe

He recounts one of his favourite visits to the garden being a local school trip where the kids would be learning about permaculture.

Initially, he intended on sitting in a corner and drawing plants and flowers around him to give the children space to do their learning activities.

But after seeing him drawing, many of them decided they also wanted to spend some time drawing and asked to join him.

Having the opportunity to contribute something positive to other visitors of the garden gave him a sense of belonging that he had previously struggled to find elsewhere. 

“I couldn’t do any lifting or digging so gardening would be difficult, but in that moment, it felt like I was finally able to give back at the Harmony Garden”. 

Going to the garden has also been a learning experience for Peter. He has become more aware of his plastic use and now knows more about how to reduce waste by reusing plastic and tea bags, for example. He has also learnt about the health benefits of many plants that he didn’t know could be eaten. 

Alongside gardening, mental wellbeing is ​one of the pillars of the Harmony Garden.

Peter mentions that the emotional and mental support he has received at the garden have improved his mental health. He often experiences issues with being around many people, but the kindness and joyful energy he was shown have brought him comfort and lifted his mood on difficult days. 

"I feel the energy and the strength of the Harmony Garden – when I leave, I feel like I’m on cloud nine".