Do you love watching how nature and gardens transform throughout the seasons? The colour changes? The different tones, scents, colours and textures that arrive at different times of year?Each month in 2021, I would love to spread a bit of garden joy and will share how the therapy gardens and towpath garden are changing! New … Continue reading New Monthly Photo Wall and Calendar Competition!
In the last year, I have recruited an incredible team of volunteers and I would love to finally introduce you to everyone! This month, meet Chrissie – our therapy garden superstar! Chrissie is based at our Towcester therapy garden every week; transforming the garden, making everyone smile, providing support and bringing in surprise doughnuts for … Continue reading Meet Chrissie
Did you know that even on these freezing cold, windy, wet days, you could be growing your own food? That exciting feeling when all the seeds are germinating in Spring is what made me fall in love with gardening. Shoots popping up built my confidence and gave me something to look forward to every day, … Continue reading Are you craving that exciting Spring feeling? Growing Sprouting Seeds.
Every day is World Mental Health Day to me, remembering my own journey and now helping to support others daily through my therapeutic gardening programmes. In these current times, more people than ever are feeling the effects of mental ill health. If you are noticing moments or long periods of anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts, … Continue reading World Mental Health Day – Check in and grow!
I'm beyond delighted to welcome Wiltshire based family business, Henchman to the Life at No.27 family and introduce them to you as a new supporter and friend of our work. Henchman has specialised in safety ladders for over 25 years and now joins Empathy by Plantworks as an official Life at No.27 sponsor, helping to … Continue reading Say hi to Henchman!
I loved recently writing this special blog for Collins4Parents, the education publishers, within HarperCollins. So much so that I thought, I would share it here too, especially as it's Mental Health Awareness Week. Helping kids find mindfulness at home through gardening Finding mindfulness can be tricky right now, even more so when the term ‘mindfulness’ … Continue reading Five ways that gardening can be good for children’s mental wellbeing.
Nearly everyone I know loves cherry tomatoes, especially when they are homegrown and eaten straight off the vine midway through a morning on the plot or in the garden. Are you the same? The first cherry tomatoes of the season always feel and taste particularly special to me, so I need to get sowing asap. … Continue reading Sweet Cherry Tomatoes – Sow, Grow and Eat
The Tête-á-Tête's are flowering and the tulip bulbs are popping up through the soil... it can only mean one thing. Spring is here...finally! During winter I worry that the towpath container garden doesn't look that aesthetically pleasing to passers by and more like just a mass collection of totally random pots in some kind of … Continue reading Spring is HERE!!!
Give me two seconds to let that blog title sink in. Nope...2, 5, or 100 seconds isn't enough! I still can't believe it even after all the writing, editing, sending it off to print and now seeing it available to pre-order pretty much every where online. But yes, I have written a children's interactive grow … Continue reading I’M A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!!!
Asking for help has always been a weakness of mine, but I'm finally learning and what a difference it has made! I have accepted business support, advertised volunteer roles, asked brilliant brands for help and held a few working parties at the therapy site now. Every time I'm always nervous whether people will connect with … Continue reading Volunteers change lives!
As 2019 comes to a close and planning for 2020 is fully underway, I wanted to have a little look back at the first amazing year of support from industry. In particular, from the wonderful team at Empathy who chose to fully commit to Life at No.27 and help make a difference. I can't thank … Continue reading EMPATHY – A YEAR IN REVIEW
I said that there would be more gift ideas and giveaways before Christmas, and here is the next one that might take your fancy! Thank you so much to DK books who have very kindly agreed for me to offer you the chance of winning TWO great books. One for children and one or you, … Continue reading WIN GARDENING BOOKS!
At this time of giving, I wanted to make sure that I give back to you for all your support and kindness over the last year. I can't give you a hug and thank you in person, so please accept a virtual one! As well as enter the first of many, very exciting Christmas giveaways! … Continue reading CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY with Empathy
Who needs some gardening gift ideas to pop on a letter to Santa? I want to bring you a few of my favourites between now and the big day, just in case you are unaware of what's new in the market or are struggling for ideas. As someone with minimal space both at home on … Continue reading Christmas Gift Idea: Combi system tools!
What is your essential gardening tool after a spade and fork? Hoe, hand trowel or you thinking the same as me...secateurs? Don't get me wrong, I think all of these are essential really, but if you had to pick just one. I think I actually use secateurs more than any other tool, especially at this … Continue reading What is your must have gardening tool?
