COLUMNIST: TRELLIS
The aim of the project was to support the prison’s community to engage in both physical activity to support health and wellbeing, and create an area that would also offer passive therapeutic benefits - a place that makes you feel better just by stepping into it, or even looking at the view.
The Wellbeing Garden was officially opened at the start of July to great acclaim. Chief Executive of Scottish Prison Service (SPS), Teresa Medhurst, helped plant an acer tree overlooking the wildlife pond which cleverly uses the garden’s natural topography in its design.
Built by inmates, it sits close to the bespoke gazebo which is central to the overall design of the new wellbeing space. The wider garden area covers roughly five acres and produces vast quantities of fruit and vegetables year-round for use in HMP Dumfries’ kitchens.
This new garden space aimed at helping relieve tension and improve mental health through being outside, has been transformed from previously being part of the under-used football pitch.
Trellis Project Advisor, Joan Wilson, worked with a cohort of prisoners and staff, facilitating their learning and practical involvement in the design and build process. Joan worked alongside offenders as they made progress with the hard landscaping installations, soil preparation, plant selection, and planting.
As part of the ongoing project, eight SPS staff members were identified as key personnel to use the Wellbeing Garden in engaging with, and supporting offenders. This team is now enrolled on Trellis’ online Seasonal Gardening Activities Training Programme, which will empower them with the confidence, skills, and knowledge to adapt gardening activities for their groups.
Additionally, on-site training is running alongside each seasonal unit to reinforce and further inspire the online learning.
Trellis has subsequently been invited to share experience of working with prison groups with a team in Sweden who are advising on the construction of a new prison there. They want to learn from international partners about how best to ensure green space and wellbeing gardens are included in the planning of the new facility from the outset.
Trellis is delighted with the immediate and wider impact of this project, and has really enjoyed working with the team at HMP Dumfries.
For further information on online learning opportunities, visit Online Learning - Seasonal Gardening Activities Training | Trellis (trellisscotland.org.uk)
Trellis promotes and supports therapeutic gardening in Scotland. In a regular column, they tell us how they harness the feel-good effects of gardening to help people feel better and improve quality of life.
If you are interested in learning more about therapeutic gardening, take a look at Trellis' website.