Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 68

The Impact of the Group
The members all avow that the
group is a strong one, with a solid
community, and all members value
the ‘all-hands-on deck’, democratic
aspect of the group. The philosophy
of Forks and Trowels is that
everyone contributes something.
Sue claims that in the area:
“There wasn’t really a community
before. People didn’t know each
other, even though they live down
the road from each other.”
Sue adds that she knows of many
lonely and isolated people who
she wants to get involved in social
activities. But community events,
gatherings, and clubs such as these
really help in breaking down these
social barriers.
“Now there’s even a Facebook
page for the group, and people
generally know each other better!”
The group has also extended
its social net out, liaising with
Sue believes community groups can
help us connect more with
our neighbours
local businesses in a sustainable
manner to obtain resources, like
re-purposing unwanted/spare tyres
from a local garage.
Beyond just building a sense of
community, it provides a healthy
outlet for any personal struggles
one might be having, and the
outdoors nature of the club makes
it super dog-friendly. This is
particularly relevant to Sue, whose
sweet little dog, Spot, “loves the
garden!”
Mental Health Benefits
Growing local and
seasonal produce can
reduce our carbon footprint
and global impact
“I joined the gardening club
because of my mental health. After
the COVID pandemic, I needed to
find ways of getting out the house
and meeting new people. It's harder
than ever for young people to
make friends right now. I don’t have
a garden myself and I read that
gardening has positive impacts on
mental health. In my case, that is
absolutely true.
“Being able to be outside, grow,
nourish, and maintain life has made
a difference. Working as a group,
doing tasks that feel productive,
and seeing your work come to
fruition is really nice. Anxiety can
cause people to panic quickly
about the bigger picture so being
able to focus on one thing at a time
helps.
"Because of my anxiety I'm usually
people
reluctant to step outside but having
a strong reason to leave, and
knowing that you'll feel safe and
secure when you get there, makes
all the difference. I moved to this
area only a few years ago. Joining
groups like these makes it so you
don't feel like a stranger in your own
area.”
Shahedah also greatly values the
gardening knowledge she has now
acquired since joining the club,
claiming how she 'knew nothing'
prior to Forks and Trowels, finding
gardening 'intimidating' but is now
getting used to it. She remarks
finally that:
“It's great to know skills like
growing your own fruit and
vegetables- you feel useful to
yourself.”
Group member Shahedah,
also points to the importance
of gardening and community
on mental health and personal
development.
Gardening has been proven to help improve mental health
11