We are Bridewell Gardens, a mental health recovery service based within a walled Cotswold garden in Wilcote, Oxfordshire. We are delighted to open the gates to the public for our plant sale and Open Days in 2022. We will be holding our plant sale on Saturday 30 April where you can browse a wide variety of cottage garden plants for sale in our stock bed avenue.
About Bridewell Gardens
Bridewell Gardens offers a recovery service for adults who have experienced serious mental illnesses. Anyone can be affected by a serious mental illness. There are over six thousand people registered with Oxfordshire GPs who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, and other psychoses – that’s the equivalent of the entire population of Chipping Norton living with the debilitating effects of what can be life-limiting conditions.
Living with a serious long-term mental health condition can impact every aspect of daily life. While everyone’s experience is different, some of the ways serious mental ill-health can affect us include finding it hard to make small decisions, finding it challenging to leave the house, to drive or take public transport, avoiding regular social interactions or new places, or difficulties managing finances or maintaining relationships. These may seem like small things but can have a major impact on a person’s life.
Social and therapeutic horticulture is proven to be a powerful intervention for people recovering from serious mental ill-health. The growing evidence of this is now informing public health interventions. Working with nature in the supportive community Bridewell offers, plays a vital role in enabling people to take active steps towards recovery, managing their mental health and finding seeds of hope in recovery. While the next steps might be engaging in new social activities, taking up training, volunteering or paid work, recovery looks different for everyone.
Bridewell offers hope. In the words of people who have attended the recovery service:
“Bridewell has enabled me to look towards the future and dream of the things I want to do and who I want to become.”
“Thanks to Bridewell, I now live a happy and hope-filled life full of love, laughter and adventure”.
Bridewell Open Day
The entire site will be open to the public during our Open Days on 15 May, 18-19 June, and 11 September 11am-4pm. Visitors may explore all parts of the vineyard and walled gardens which are not usually accessible to the public. We will be selling our produce including Bridewell sparkling wine which is made from grapes grown in Bridewell’s organic vineyard. From our pop-up café, you can enjoy coffee and cake in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of the garden. Bring a picnic to relax in the vineyard and make the most of your day out in this idyllic corner of West Oxfordshire.
Cost: A suggested donation of £5 per person.
Address: Bridewell Gardens, The Walled Garden, Wilcote, Oxfordshire, OX7 3DT (n.b. do check a map before visiting us as sat navs are not reliable.)
Charity Number: 1158456
