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Roots Gardening Services

Roots provides a gardening service in Bournemouth and Poole to older and disabled people who can no longer manage their garden and a ground maintenance service to commercial properties.  The service is delivered by a team of volunteers who are recovering from mental health issues.

The Roots gardening service is provided by a team of volunteers who are recovering from mental ill health and are trained and supervised by a Help & Care Garden Services Worker. It has been in operation since 1989 and was the first practical service developed by Help & Care. Roots launched as a social enterprise in 2010. It is funded by the Clinical Commissioning Group for Dorset, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Bournemouth Borough Council.

The Roots service costs £23.50 per hour and is aimed specifically at helping older and disabled people. This service operates three days a week, Tuesday to Thursday.

 

The service is based in the grounds of Herbert Hospital in Westbourne. The Roots Service has its own van, trailer and a range of power and hand tools. 

Roots services include:

Mowing lawns
Strimming edges
Hedge trimming
Moderate pruning of trees and shrubs
Planting and weeding
Sweeping up leaves
Fencing
Shed repairs
Turfing
Laying paving stones

 

How Roots Helps people

Older and disabled clients benefit from having their gardens maintained in a caring and professional manner, contributing to their wellbeing and safety.

  • The garden remains a pleasure rather than a cause of anxiety. Some tenancy agreements place responsibility on upkeep of the garden on the tenant.
  • The garden is maintained at a fair cost by trustworthy gardeners.
  • Health and safety issues are minimised – helping to prevent falls.
  • Tidy gardens reduce the risk of older people becoming victims of burglary and / or being prone to bogus callers.
  • Disputes with neighbours can be alleviated or avoided.
  • The service is reliable and fully supervised.

 

The Roots Gardening Service can be used by older people and those with disabilities that can no longer manage their own gardens. Roots covers the Bournemouth and Poole areas. Please call 0300 111 3303 and ask for the Roots team who will discuss your needs and eligibility for the service.

The Roots Gardening Service is a social enterprise and charges a yearly membership fee of £30. The hourly rate for a team of workers is £23.50.

 

To find out more about Roots please contact the team.

Call: 0300 111 3303

Email: roots@helpandcare.org.uk 

Read our stories…

Dan's story - Recovering from depression and anxiety

Dan joined Roots when he was eighteen, and since then he has been a volunteer for three years.Read more.

Peter’s story – Volunteering at Roots

Peter is in his forties and has been volunteering at Roots for two years. Roots has helped him recover from mental health illness and feel more positive about life.Read more.

Ann's story - Recovering from depression with Roots

Ann joined Help & Care’s Roots Service while she was recovering from severe depression. After two years of volunteering for Help & Care, Ann was offered a permanent job at the social enterprise.Read more.

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