David, Charles and Cathy at the Elm Village Open Space Community Garden

TUCKED away from the busy roads of Camden Town, six gardeners water potatoes, deweed paths and sip tea on a sunny Monday morning.

Elm Village Open Space Community Garden, part of Castlehaven Community Association, is one of the spaces in Camden which joined the green social prescription programme last Autumn.

Doctors can send patients struggling with health problems or struggles with isolations to projects like this.
Volunteers over the age of 18 and those who are prescribed the community gardening sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays learn how to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit without pesticides. But the project is more than just harvesting radishes.

Cathy Graham, environmental project manager at Castlehaven, said: “It’s more about teaching, educating, promoting health and interaction with nature and getting people connecting and talking. I’m passionate about using nature and the outdoors to promote wellbeing.”

The best thing about the project is “noticing little changes in people”, when volunteers become more chatty for example. “I love seeing the progression in people,” she said.

David Jones has been volunteering at the garden for seven years. He joined with other people who had disabilities and mental health problems.

“It’s helped me a lot. People have come and gone over the years but I’ve met people and made friends,” he said.
“I’m glad I’ve come. I’ve learnt about vegetables weeding, insects and all sorts of things.”