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About us
The Growing Space: The Green Heart of Wincanton
Who we are
The Growing Space is a Social and Therapeutic Horticulture charity based in Wincanton, Somerset. We work in close partnership with Wincanton's Healthy Living Centre - The Balsam Centre — two charities, working side by side.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide participatory, social and therapeutic horticulture, and nature-based activities in a safe and supportive environment
Our Vision
Our vision is for everyone to live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
What we do
We grow vegetables and propagate plants in our market garden just across the road from The Balsam Centre. We also tend the wildlife gardens that wrap around the Centre itself, and we run activities at Moldrams Ground, a woodland nature reserve nearby.
We offer outdoor activities for anyone who wants to get involved, be they young people finding their way after a difficult stretch, people managing their mental health day to day or people needing a bit more social contact. We also provide activities that promote independence for adults with learning disabilities, and welcome volunteers who want to put a few hours a week into something that gives back.
There's no single way to take part, and signing up is easy — anyone can come. Once a week or every day, join in with a group or work quietly on the edge of one, stay for a season or come back for years — whatever suits you!
How we help
Our services are shaped around a unique blend of wildlife gardening, food growing, and arts & crafts. We ensure everyone using our services can connect with the natural world around them.
We use the outdoors to help people look forward rather than back, restore faith in themselves, be part of something without too much commitment, and roam freely towards their ambitions. We always plan our activities around people's individual needs.
We help people:
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improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
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become better able to cope with life’s challenges.
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make broader social connections and improve community cohesion.
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improve their connections with the natural environment.
We help children and young people:
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become more confident, creative learners through finding awe and inspiration in nature.
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branch out and develop versatile skills for the future.