Call for Volunteers for Horticultural Therapy Garden

Budding and experienced gardeners are invited to get involved in South Eastern Regional College’s (SERCs) new Horticultural Therapy Garden.

Located at SERC’s Holywood Campus, the Horticultural Therapy Garden has been made possible with £6000 funding secured from the Ulster Garden Villages Ltd Grant Fund to develop a horticultural therapy garden for the Holywood community that will support the local people with mental, physical and spiritual health aspects of life. 

SERC Horticulture Lecturer, Claire Dunwoody said, “We are now at the next stage of the project and are ready to involve volunteers to help us further develop the garden which will benefit the local community.   Whether you are a gardening novice or an experienced gardener, we want people willing to get their hands dirty, to help us dig over the ground, plant for biodiversity and help create a nature pond. This is a great opportunity to get involved in a project which is going to have a positive impact on the whole Holywood community.”

“Tuesday will be our volunteer day during the build phase to October 2021 and volunteers can commit as much time as it suits.   There is no commitment to attend every week.   We want our volunteers to have fun and enjoy being outdoors.”

She added, “Horticulture therapy is the process of using plants and gardens to improve physical and mental health, as well as developing communication and thinking skills.  A horticultural therapy garden is considered as being a safe and secure place to develop someone's ability to mix socially, make friends and learn practical skills that will help them to be more independent.”

To express your interest in volunteering at the Therapy Garden please contact Horticulture Lecturer, Claire Dunwoody cdunwoody@serc.ac.uk