OPEN AFTERNOON
At WELLIES HQ, Chapel on the Hill, on 19th July 2019 from 1pm to 4pm. All welcome to come and see what we do and the beautiful setting we do it in. Light refreshments and stalls selling WELLIES’ wares available
Help us Build a Therapeutic Garden
We have just launched a CrowdFunder campaign to improve the outdoor space at WELLIES and need your help!
The Project plan is to approach a landscape/garden designer and task them with creating a tranquil yet useable area that will be suitable for practical activities and reflective purposes. The garden will include a covered decking/veranda area for potting, pricking out, planting and craft activities; an outdoor cooking area; a large communal table with benches for sharing food or working at; a pond/water feature; a tree sculpture; an edible hedge; secluded seating and continued use of the raised beds.
There is a need to increase the useable space as participant numbers are constantly increasing and indoor space is finite. There are c.100 people attending on a weekly basis and there is always a waiting list. The demand for mental health provision in the region is rapidly rising. Work on the project would be scheduled to start September 2019, carried out by the WELLIES participants, volunteers and an experienced PM from within the organisation. January 2020 decide what seeds to buy and crops to plant, the tree sculpture will be ongoing and the pond ready for filling with fish in the Spring. Summer 2020 will see a beautiful outdoor space used for cooking, crafting on the decking, lunches outside, bountiful crops and areas available for reflection and peaceful contemplation.
To pledge your support, simply head to our CrowdFunder page before 29th July 2019 and give what you can. No amount is too small and you will be helping us continue to make a real difference to adults recovering from poor mental health.
Calke Abbey Visit
In March, WELLIES groups visited Calke Abbey for lambing and to visit the walled garden.
Helping Sudbury Hall to decorate for Christmas December 2018
One of the highlights of our annual calendar is being involved with the mammoth task of decoration Sudbury Hall for Christmas.
We are so proud of our amazing volunteers & here are some images of what we achieved together…
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of the WELLIES team! There will be no formal classes until the New Year. Next terms dates to follow.
New Tractor Project
After the initial plea for help was printed in the Farmers Weekly Magazine, farmer Howard Hughes from the Brecon Beacons in Wales contacted Nick and Julie. He had a 1960 Ford Dexta tractor complete with loader, bucket and muck fork which had been sitting in the barn for the last 4 years untouched.
Our volunteers Kevin Parker, Peter Roe and Darren Platt joined Director Nick Platt and his sidekick Spike the Jack Russel on what turned out to be an epic journey to collect the Dexta.
Although the tractor had been kept inside, it would not start, so the four had a job on their hands to get it loaded onto the trailer. 4 hours later and in torrential downpours they managed it! It’s now at her new home at WELLIES HQ in Somersal Herbert.
The volunteers wasted no time in getting their hands on the tractor and already started stripping it down and cleaning the parts and rubbing down the rather rusty paintwork.
The team are building a special shelter to enable them to work on the tractor and keep her safe from the elements.
They have their sights set on taking the restored Dexta to the Ashbourne and Manifold Shows in the Summer.
Director Julie White said “We are so excited to have the tractor here and it’s great to see how much fun the guys are having. I would love to have a little fleet of them, so we are still on the look-out for unloved tractors!” For more information and photos take a look at our Facebook.