Gardening for good mental health - Heather's story

Shaun Sweeney, tenancy support worker at Leeds Irish Health and Homes (LIHH), shares how one of our tenants, Heather, has cultivated a sense of wellbeing through gardening.  

“After Heather’s husband passed away, there was a lot to deal with,” says Shaun. “Obviously she was grieving, but there were some practical issues, too. Suddenly, the house she was living in felt far too big for her. She asked her housing association if she could move to a smaller property, but nothing was forthcoming.” 

Thankfully, Leeds Irish Health & Homes were able to offer Heather a tenancy in an LIHH property. The house has a lovely garden, and Heather enjoys tending to the plants and flowers.

“Since COVID-19, I think we all understand the benefits of getting outdoors,” says Shaun. “For Heather, getting out in the garden has had a positive impact on her general wellbeing and mental health.” 

Heather says she loves ‘pottering’ in her garden and enjoys the fact that it keeps her active. “Gardening is great exercise,” Shaun says. “When the weather’s good, Heather spends a lot of time out there. She has a couple of ongoing health conditions she needs to manage, and gardening keeps her physically and mentally fit.” 

While Heather’s husband was unwell, gardening provided some respite from her worries and caring responsibilities. Since his passing, Shaun says it has given her a sense of normality. She also has lots of creative ideas for developing her garden, including keeping bees! 

Getting involved with Leeds Irish Health & Homes activities and events has also been a great support to Heather, says Shaun. She feels connected to others through volunteering and attending events, and enjoys maintaining the connection to her Irish heritage.  

“After her husband died, it would have been easy for Heather to isolate herself,” Shaun says. “Instead, she’s building connections and confidence, and giving up her time to support others. We’re lucky to have her.” 

Heather in her garden

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If you’d like to give gardening or getting outdoors a try, there’s lots of opportunities to do so at LIHH: 

• Our gardening project runs seasonally at Holy Rosary and St Anne’s Primary School in Leeds, and we’re always looking for volunteers and donations of plants.  

• Our intrepid Mná (Women’s) Group go out on fortnightly trips all across Yorkshire, and frequently visit parks and gardens, as does our Men’s Group.  

• Our Graveside Project maintains graves for those without family or friends to do so, and extra pairs of hands are always welcome.  

• We have plans to make use of the garden at our new premises at the Broom Hill Centre, Leeds, and create some raised beds for growing vegetables and flowers. If you can offer any resources or your time, please let us know! 

To find out more about any of these groups or sessions, contact the LIHH office on 0113 262 5614 or email info@lih.org