Dementia friendly allotment breaks new ground in Bristol

Bristol’s first dementia friendly allotment launched on 23 July, at an event attended by Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, alongside older people, their carers, families, and the volunteers who had turned the idea into reality.

The space at Charlton Road allotments in Brentry, north Bristol is designed to help people living with dementia and their carers engage with their community, gardening and the many benefits of horticultural therapy.

The allotment is managed by Alive, the UK’s leading charity enriching the lives of older people in care and training their carers.

Alice’s CEO Isobel Jones is a co-director of Bristol Health Partners’ Dementia Health Integration Team (HIT). She says:

“We’re so pleased that our dementia friendly allotment is finally open. With the help of an array of volunteers, local businesses and tradespeople, Alive have spent the last year turning a overgrown and neglected allotment into a safe and accessible space for older people living with dementia.

“With a compost toilet and a social shed, it has all the facilities needed and is now a peaceful haven. Participants can choose what they do; they can come and potter about on personal projects, work with a volunteer, or just sit and have a cup of tea and chat and enjoy being outside.”

From 16 August 2021, Alive will be running two sessions a week at the allotment for people living with dementia and their carers, on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Book a session

For enquiries, please email [email protected] or call 0117 377 4756.