Stories

'I was shielding because of health issues. I found it hard. On my first time out of the house, I came to see the garden. I walked round the corner of the building and saw the garden for the first time, and it overwhelmed me...

‘I was in a lot of distress. I was hearing voices. I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. I saw the garden. I wanted to pray here. I’ve been volunteering ever since...'

'I’m a retired engineer. Since I retired, it’s been gardening, and bellringing that have filled the void. My hands are always green or dirty...'

Psalm 23 gives me a sense of the wraparound love of God

‘Through my breast cancer surgery, I decided to get into gardening, planting up pots. This garden has been a haven to me, a real blessing.’

During lockdown, I spent a lot of time in my garden, because I find gardening therapeutic. I read Psalm 23 every day. It’s been so helpful.

‘Psalm 23 is what I always go to in the ups and downs of my life.'

'I had a severe fracture of my ankle two years ago and it has been needing further surgery.'

‘Home alone in the dark when I was a child, I was frightened. I sang “The Lord is my shepherd” to make me feel more secure.’