Forfar Open Garden - a therapeutic garden

Wed, Jul 15th 2020 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Dr Gordon Peterkin on 15th July

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President Hamish Tait welcomed members to the weekly virtual meeting via Zoom and introduced the speaker, his friend Dr Gordon Peterkin. Hamish explained that he and Gordon went back a long way as they were at school together in Dumfries and both went on to become GPs.

Rotarian Dr Gordon Peterkin, chair of the Forfar Open Garden, described how it began when the 1999/2000 President of Forfar Rotary Club, Mike Stent, became unwell and his sister-in-law, Eleanor Gledhill, got the idea for a therapeutic garden. Friend Jan Laird donated half an acre of ground, which included a water well and the work of clearing the site began. Before and after photographs showed how the project had transformed the ground into a wonderful garden featuring an enormous productive greenhouse, meeting room with a veranda, beautiful flower beds and space for selling plants. Potatoes, peaches, apples, squash and figs have all been popular. Donations in cash and kind from local businesses and funders have been received as well as large amounts of local voluntary work including that of children. The garden which has won several awards has been closed during lockdown but is open again and the main wooden gate featuring floral metal work is particularly impressive.

Research shows that gardening is good for mind and body. Half of the 40 volunteers at the garden are people with disabilities. All has been going well with the charity but for the future it is felt to be too small and, like other small charities, it has been hit by the side-effects of Covid. The trustees are therefore looking at amalgamation with a larger local charity, with their target being children and social prescribing.

Bill Sutherland gave a warm vote of thanks, emphasising how good gardens are for individuals with physical, mental and social needs.