Beyond the plant pots and flower beds, community gardens are hubs of wellbeing, connection, and togetherness. 

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has released the first-of-its-kind State of Gardening report this year, providing insight into the impact of both private and public gardens.  

Community gardens in particular were noted to be “good for community cohesion,” something that the volunteers at Grapes Hill Community Garden in the heart of Norwich certainly agree with. 

One gardener, Jo, says that she’s seen many visitors and volunteers over the fifteen years that she has been involved with Grapes Hill, all of whom had mentioned “how lovely it is and how refreshing it is to be in the space.” 

Gardening has long been viewed as a therapeutic activity, something that the RHS’s report supports, with 77% of the surveyed gardeners saying that they saw improvements in their mental health. 

Many people don’t have access to gardens, however, which makes spaces like Grapes Hill even more vital to communities. 

“[Gardening] brings people together, it gives them all a common objective in the task, and helps them feel better for themselves,” says Richard Bearman, chair of Grapes Hill.  

The community garden is used as a safe space for people from a range of backgrounds, skill levels, and abilities, designed to be wheelchair accessible and welcoming to those who may not have had access to similar spaces before. 

As a long-time gardener, Richard has welcomed many people into the small community space, which is tucked away off the side of a busy junction.  

Whilst the road itself may be noisy, it’s barely noticeable to gardeners like Richard, who lose themselves in pruning, potting, and planting. 

Even in the colder winter months, he’s keen to be outside and working.  

“It might be only 5ºc, but it feels like you’re having a really summer time out here in the garden, and you go home feeling much better for yourself afterwards.  

And you’re able to deal with the internet, social media, all the other things that you don’t have to deal with when you’re outside in this green space.” 

Image credit: Macy Hall