Walled Garden Whitby: well – being through nature
Wednesday 1st November
Volunteers from the Whitby Walled Garden are celebrating their award – winning entries in the 2023 Photographic Competition run by Two Ridings Community Foundation and Clare Granger, High Sheriff of North Yorkshire.
The competition was designed to highlight and showcase the fantastic work of community groups across York and North Yorkshire. Participants were invited to send photographs that illustrated the people of our region, the vibrancy and the energy showing the vital work that community groups do.
The Walled Garden volunteers were delighted to welcome the High Sheriff to Whitby and to show off the garden and describe their work and plans.
With over 90 entries, Walled Garden volunteer Christine Wilson’s photograph was awarded third prize winning £1,000 funding and volunteer Alice Stevens’ photograph was highly commended. Both volunteers attended the exhibition and presentation of prizes at Allerton Castle near Knaresboro and had the opportunity to showcase their work and the garden project.
Judges describe Christine’s photograph as ‘a beautiful layered image, a stunning portrayal of the richness of the garden and the vibrancy of the project.’
Over the coming weeks Christine and Alice will be working with the volunteers’ steering group to make plans to allocate the funding. Proposals include developing the cut flower bed to include a more diverse range of dahlias and to establish a new native British wildflower plot.
The Walled Garden is a long term well being project, run by Whitby Area Development Trust, and an opportunity for volunteers to meet regularly outdoors to learn gardening and conservation skills in partnership with Whitby Naturalists Society.
This long – term project hopes to help people achieve a connection with nature to improve physical, emotional and social health.
Garden Co-ordinator Effie Burns said ‘Sharing experiences in the garden with like – minded people can give a real sense of having something in common to improve confidence. Enjoying the sensory experience is important, observing, touching and enjoying the scent enables us to gain an improved sense of well – being. We are dedicated and passionate about the health benefits the gardening and spending time in nature can bring.’
If you’re interested in volunteering for this supportive project, contact the gardeners by email: info@whitbycoliseum.com
or telephone 01947 825000.
Use of the garden is restricted to registered volunteers only and not open to the public. The Trust kindly asks people not to visit without prior permission.
