Flora Cultura came from a confluence of ideas and experiences.
Founder & Director, Rashid Benoy, is a passionate horticulturist with a love of nature.
As a young man he worked with Dandelion Time, which gave him his first insight into the therapeutic work that could be achieved in a garden.
Building a life in the horticulture industry, including work for the National Trust in their Cornish gardens, he nurtured a belief that working with the land was restorative and therapeutic.
Flora Cultura came into existence in November 2021, a response to the devastating Covid lock-downs that we all experienced.
Rashid looked for a place to begin the charity’s journey and was offered a temporary home for Flora Cultura, in the very beautiful Gwernyfed Walled Garden.
While he and his new board of Trustees began forming a plan for their fledgeling charity, this became a haven for the individuals who came to start their own journey of healing in this safe and nurturing walled garden.
As Rashid began to talk to the incredible people who look after Bronllys Community Hospital the team moved the charity’s base to Black Mountains College, a glorious hiatus where the gardeners, staff and volunteers at Flora Cultura benefitted from the input of students and staff at the college. Rashid is the tutor on the Regenerative Horticulture Course and horticultural lead on the Farm Campus Land Use Committee. So the ties are strong.
In November 2024 Flora Cultura made a permanent home in the Orchards at Bronllys Community Hospital.
… and so the work begins.
It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.
We are all journeying: the people who come to us in search of help; the team behind the charity; the volunteers who want to make a difference; the team at Bronllys Hospital who hope their staff, patients and visitors will benefit from time in our gardens; and the garden itself which has been neglected for so long.
The space is growing, we have so many plans and everyone who works in the gardens is creating something for our community .. restorative, healing and beautiful.
WATCH THIS SPACE!
A DAY IN THE ORCHARDS:
Dress for working in the orchard – it gets muddy when it rains.
Don’t forget to bring a packed lunch, snacks and a bottle of water.
We will provide tea/coffee or herbal teas.
10:00 am
Meet at Bronllys Hospital – Follow the sign to ‘the Orchards’
10:05 am
Morning meeting to discuss the day’s activities and have a cup of tea
10:20 am
Gardening and/or crafts begin
12:00 pm
Lunch (bring your own packed lunch)
1:00 pm
Gardening and/or crafts
2:45 pm
Time to clean tools and put everything away
3:00 pm
Time to go home
Everyone is tired and happy!
Social and therapeutic horticulture is well established in the UK with over 40 years of practice that has its roots in occupational therapy. In the 2000’s research carried out by Sempik et al (Loughborough University) ,in conjunction with Thrive, produced a clear snapshot of the valuable work being carried out by charities and community groups across the UK. This was added to by the Kings Fund report in 2016 on Gardens and Health which made the case for further integration of therapy gardens into mainstream health policy and practice.
The work we do with our gardeners is very different to a clinical setting and although many of them are very anxious when they come for a taster day, this soon passes. The outdoor setting allows people to get lost in the fascinations of the natural world, releasing tension and stress. The horticultural work gives purpose and direction as well as bringing new skills and a sense of empowerment. The gardens are at the early stage of development but our gardeners are already taking produce home with them which will encourage them to taste new foods and improve their diet with more wholefoods, further improving their mental health and well-being.
Please explore our website, it will give you an insight into the incredible work Flora Cultura does in the Orchards at Bronllys Hospital, Powys. In our new setting we are working closely with several of our referrers in NHS departments that are also located at Bronllys Hospital. This enables closer communication and a more integrated health care package for patients that use our services.
We are intent on nurturing relationships with all healthcare providers in Powys, GP Surgeries, Mental Health Charities, Support Organisations … If you would like to be involved as a referrer … get in touch.
We welcome healthcare providers into the setting at Flora in the Orchards, here they can see individuals beyond the clinical setting, enjoying their time in the gardens and relaxed in a way that often isn’t possible in a clinic.
We will give you tea too … maybe cake if the group hasn’t eaten it all!
It takes less than five minutes to fill in our form …
Yes. We are now trialling self-referrals. If you believe this approach could help you, or someone close to you, get in touch with us; speak to your GP or primary healthcare provider; and we will do our utmost to help you join our programme.
We help adults with mental health conditions, physical or learning disabilities, sensory loss, autism and other neurological conditions.
The size of the group varies from 8 – 16 people.
Yes, there is plenty of parking at the hospital and there are usually places close by Flora in the Orchards.
The hospital is on the T4, T14 and X12 routes.
With the help of Nick Shier, and his drone, we will be recording the changes at the Orchards over the coming months and years.
JANUARY 2025
Registered Charity 1190020
Website Creation & Digital Support Donated by easypeasyDigital
Photography by the team with additional images sourced through Unsplash
Drone Footage Donated by Nick Shier