Forest Farm Peace Garden is an ecotherapy garden at a permaculture allotment site in Hainault, East London.  We provide an Ecotherapy Programme offering social and therapuetic activities for a broad cross-section of supported clients and buddy volunteers to promote mental and physical health, social inclusion, intercultural awareness and environmental sustainability.

There are many ongoing projects in the garden – growing organic vegetables, caring for fruit trees and berry-bearing shrubs, beekeeping, tending the herb garden and many workshops and events that welcome and share skills with the community.  Our aim is for all of our activities to have a benefit for both our clients and the environment.

Our ecotherapy programme is structured for people with low-level mental health support needs such as depression, anxiety, isolation and low self-esteem. Buddy volunteers provide additional support to people referred to our service, assisting them with gardening tasks, as well as helping with the general running of the ecotherapy sessions. Buddies can make a huge impact to their wellbeing by helping to make their experience in the garden welcoming and purposeful.

We provide two days free training covering the aims of ecotherapy and how your volunteer role can benefit the people we support, plus issues to consider when supporting vulnerable adults with mental health needs, practical gardening skills and site safety.

The training will take place on two consecutive Fridays:

Friday 9 February, 10am to 4pm (held at One Place East, 98-100 Ilford Lane, Ilford, IG1 2LD)

Friday 16 February, 10am to 4pm (held at our garden in Hainault)

If you are interested in applying to be a buddy volunteer please read the role description to find out more and complete the short application form.  Download below:

Buddy Volunteer Role Description 2018

Buddy Application Form 2018

The closing date for applications is Friday 2 February 2018.

After completion of the training, successful applicants are required to undertake an enhanced DBS check arranged by FFPG.

Please contact Fran Reeves, our Ecotherapy worker, if you would like to find out more about being a buddy on: mobile 07525 125057, email fran@forestfarmpeacegarden.org