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THERAPEUTIC GARDENING

If you're living with HIV and appreciate nature we're here to help.

Our gardening activities aim to establish a community of likeminded people, and bring them together to enjoy and connect with nature. 

We know that some of you have found therapeutic gardening very helpful. You probably know that funding for our gardening project has now ended, but we have been looking at imaginative ways to keep the projects going.

Gardening at Calthorpe Gardens We will continue to maintain the U=U garden and undertake other gardening work at Calthorpe under the supervision of Gaven at Calthorpe. If you would like to garden here, just let us know so you can become a Calthorpe volunteer.

Seeds on Zoom We know that some of you cannot get to Kings Cross but would welcome Zoom meetings around gardening projects. They will probably be held on the second Wednesday of the month.

Seeds Trips We are envisaging additional trips, such as the ones to Kew Gardens. We would welcome your ideas for gardens to visit over the coming months.

Gardening at St Georges’ Hospital – Seedlings Last year we started a gardening project at St Georges’ in Tooting called Seedlings. Unfortunately it is proving a little difficult to restart this as the hospital requires a contract between us and them. We were preparing to work in conjunction with another charity called Thrive, but the person involved then decided to move away from London. So watch this space. In the meantime we will ask if Peter can maintain the garden to ensure the weeds are kept under control.

If you want to join any of these activities, or if you have any suggestions for the future of our gardening group, please get in touch with Sarah Fraser or David Wyatt. 

After retiring I was very depressed, I had to face up to having HIV. The Seeds participants were so welcoming, I connected with them immediately.
The Seeds participant​
I don't have many friends with HIV, especially from my age group, so this group has given me people who I have a lot in common with and understand me.
The Seeds participant​

A ThRIVING GREEN OASIS

Therapeutic Gardening with Virginia

For more than 35 years the Calthorpe Community Project has been a thriving green oasis in the heart of King’s Cross, bringing people together making it the vibrant place that it is today. The Seeds participants gather at the Calthorpe Community Garden to look after plants, drink freshly picked herbal tea, chat and relax.

I had never practiced yoga outdoors or in and found the lessons therapeutic.
The Seeds participant​

virginia - the creator of the seeds

virginia cucchi standing by post box

“I am a garden designer and horticulturist and I wanted to combine this with my passion for improving our lives as people living with HIV. The idea of the Seeds Project was to use nature as a catalyst for well-being for people living with HIV. I run The Seeds Project in the Calthorpe Community Gardens in London in partnership with Positively UK, The Food Chain and YMCA Positive Health. It has a really positive impact on the people who take part and also raises awareness of U=U. People not only gain gardening skills and tips for healthy eating but also connect with other people living with HIV. ” Virginia Cucchi

 

u=u: the seeds says it with flowers

The Seeds participants are committed to reducing HIV-related stigma by spreading the Undetectable Equals Untransmissbale message across London green spaces. A beautiful and uplifting way to say that people with HIV who are on effective antivarial therapy cannot pass the virus on!

Therapeutic Gardening U=U
Therapeutic Gardening U=U
Therapeutic Gardening Group Shot

In acknowledging World AIDS Day 2020, the Jonathan Mann Clinic at the Homerton University Hospital invited The Seeds participants to display their U=U sign in the Clifden Centre.

VIDEO ARCHIVE

Play Video

A presentation for Positive Harvest 2020 by The Seeds Project Lead, Virginia. 

Play Video about Therapeutic Gardening

A video about medicinal herbs by the herbalist Lloyd Gee, produced as part of The Seeds Project at the Calthorpe Community Garden by Ana Carrasco from Communitinspire, who connects community groups at The Calthrope Gardens. 

Play Video

Another inspiring video created by our ally, Ana Carrasco from Communitinspire. 

“What an amazing production. It has brought tears of joy, happiness and a continued sense of belonging to the community, as well as the Positively UK organisation” – a peer mentor creating one of U=U the flower beds. 

 

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