Our projects
Earthworkers
Our core service
Earthworks offers weekday placements to people aged 18 years and upwards who have a learning disability, who are known as Earthworkers. Our Earthworkers receive work experience and informal training in horticulture, ecology and conservation, small-scale construction, woodwork and crafts.
Earthworks on Wheels
Earthworks on Wheels is a pilot project, empowering Earthworkers to use their gardening skills learnt at Earthworks to care for the gardens of vulnerable people.
The project was paused due to the pandemic and our team is back out in the community supporting local groups to manage their outdoor spaces.
We hope that our Earthworkers and volunteers will be back out in our adapted van to once again care for the gardens of vulnerable members of the community including older people, low income families and people suffering from chronic illness.
Benefits to Earthworkers
- Improves confidence, self-esteem and self-worth by empowering them to help others
- Increased sense of self-worth by vocational experience
- Development of applied horticultural skills
- Cohesion with the wider community by engaging with the public
Benefits to wider community
- Reduces social isolation for vulnerable and older people by providing regular social interaction
- Support to live independently, maintain their gardens and remain in their homes
- Our service is provided free of charge, with a suggested donation of £30.
How you can get involved
- We are looking for sponsors and volunteers to enable the project to run five days a week.
- Could this be you or your company?
- Please contact us to learn more about becoming a sponsor of this enormously beneficial and high-profile community project.
Children and Young People
Returning in 2024
We offer nature-based activity sessions including gardening and country crafts to groups of children and young people from partners schools, colleges and community groups throughout the year.
Forest Garden
Our Earthworkers are creating a forest garden where their individual plots used to be.
Development of this currently disused area of our gardens into something beautiful, informative and inclusive is kicking off with workshops on forest gardening and permaculture principles, followed by the co-creation of the space.
Follow us on social media to see how this develops!
Garden Clubs
Earthworks runs small group Garden Clubs in our eco-gardens on Hixberry Lane, St Albans. These are a great chance to be active, social, and learn and share skills, all in a beautiful calming setting.
We’re planning our next clubs and would love to hear from you if you are interested in joining.
We’re planning to run:
- Whole day groups (10am – 2:30pm)
- Afternoon groups (3:35pm – 5:35pm)
These clubs aim to reach people who are experiencing barriers to wellbeing to support self care and connection with others.
Growing Together
Funded by Hertfordshire County Council, Growing Together offers social and therapeutic horticulture to people with lower-level support needs.
On Wednesdays we support six people (known as Gardeners) to build horticulture and social skills. Workshops and activities include: vegetable production and harvesting, country crafts, composting and organic pest control.
Supporting people who primarily have a learning difficulty, autism and/or acquired brain injury, and provide regular respite for their carers. Growing Together Gardeners benefit from time spent in our natural green spaces, supporting physical and mental health and wellbeing, and inspiring life-long healthy habits.