Gardens and prisoners bloom together

Did you know that the RHS has a prison garden programme?  It’s run in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice.  Prisoners in Manchester and Liverpool are involved, as well as Birmingham. 

At the HMP Birmingham, prisoners are working on a programme to grow vegetables for local food banks.  The prisoners have created some beautiful gardens, and it’s made a difference to them.   A number of them come into the prison with mental health problems, and they find respite in the gardens.  The prisoners find that the gardening they do and being in the garden gives them peace and space away from the world of the prison wing. 

Needless to say, there is a high level of security that prisoners have to pass before they are allowed to take part.  But what an opportunity to help prisoners blossom and bloom – there’s nothing like having a purpose and being with nature. 

Prisoners in other prisons have grown vegetable plugs.  The plugs – which start life as seeds -  are passed on to community gardens who can harvest them and distribute the vegetables to food banks and charities. 

At HMP Styal, the prisoners have the opportunity to get involved in horticulture to prepare them for life back outside of prison.   They are sleeping better, feeling better in themselves and feeling more confident.  For the last 7 years, they have created  a garden at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.

Well done to everyone involved.

By the way, a number of other charities are involved in prison work. 

Restart Dogs CIC is a canine-assisted rehabilitation programme operating in prisons and young offenders institutions across England.  

Paws for Progress works in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service at HMP & YOI Polmont, offering different services, tailored to guide learners through their journey with them.

Therapy Dogs  have volunteers and their dogs visit prisons across England and Wales, offering invaluable support to both inmates and staff.  These visits can be hugely helpful, especially to those prisoners who have few or no visitors. 

Pets as Therapy also visits inmates in prisons and it has been partnering with prisons across the UK to offer therapeutic dog visits since 2007. 

Of course, the Prison Service itself also has prison dogs.  Tired Paws takes care of ex prison service dogs.  Many sniffer dogs, riot dogs or dogs who have guarded the perimeters daily, are retired earlier than expected on medical grounds and they can’t get the insurance they need.  Enter Tired Paws to help them.