The winners of the Green Health Awards 2018 were presented with their prizes by Rt Rev James Newcome, the Church of England’s lead bishop for health and social care, at the Green Health Live Conference at Lambeth Palace (2 October).
St Paul’s Church Camden Square in the Parish of Old St Pancras was announced as the winner of the Church Times Green Health Award for 2018 and received the Gardening Against The Odds trophy.
The garden at Wharton and Cleggs Lane Church in Salford won The Allchurches Trust Community Nurture Award. The award focuses on the gardens that get local people involved and boost the community’s spiritual, mental and physical health.
St John’s Meadow Garden, Upper Norwood won The Mind and Soul Foundation Growing Calm Award for an urban ecotherapy project that provides community and respite for residents of heavily urban environments.
Representatives from churches around the country joined health and gardening professionals at the one day conference, during which the awards were presented. Delegates heard speakers from the RHS, the King’s Fund and other experts explain the benefits of gardening to physical and mental issues.
The Green Health Awards and Green Health Live Conference are an initiative of the Church of England working with The Church Times, The Guild of Health and St Raphael and The Conservation Foundation to encourage more churches to see how their space can be used either by members of their own congregations or by community groups and health organisations.
Mental health problems in local communities are now one of the biggest social issues Church of England clergy encounter. A survey of more than 1,000 senior clergy* found that the proportion reporting that mental health is a ‘major’ or ‘significant’ problem in their local area increased sharply over the past five years.
St Paul’s Church, in the parish of Old St Pancras, has created a woodland garden which is a wildlife and growing space supported by members of the congregation and involving patients from St Pancras Hospital which specialises in geriatric and psychiatric care. Its weekly session has been designed to coincide a holy communion service and coffee morning. The church aims to share and make use of its outdoor space with the need for people experiencing social exclusion and mental health difficulties to have access welcoming and supportive green space.
Wharton and Cleggs Lane Church began developing gardens on land at the rear of the Methodist church in Salford ten years ago. Sited in one of the most deprived areas of the country the project involves community allotments, a small orchard, nature walk and two greenhouses. The church works closely with the local health improvement team who refer people to the project.
St John’s Meadow Garden is in a built-up urban area of Croydon which offers nurture through nature for people of all ages and backgrounds. The project began in 2013 when the vicar appealed for help to manage land adjacent to the church which had become overgrown and derelict. With the help of volunteers the meadow has since become a community haven with strong links to Croydon Association for Pastoral Care in Mental Health and two doctors’ surgeries providing a calm and nurturing space and a listening ear.
* The 2017 Church in Action Survey, conducted by Church Urban Fund and the Church of England
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
The Conservation Foundation has been inspiring, enabling and celebrating practical environmental action for over 35 years. www.conservationfoundation.co.uk
The Guild of Health and St Raphael is an ecumenical, inclusive and prayerful organisation working locally and nationally in the Christian healing ministry. www.gohealth.org.uk
The Church Times, founded in 1863, is known for informed and independent reporting of Church and world news. www.churchtimes.co.uk
The Allchurches Trust is one of the UK’s largest grant-giving charities. In 2017, it gave £15.6 million to churches, charities and communities. www.allchurches.co.uk
The Mind and Soul Foundation works in the field of mental health to encourage, educate and equip. www.mindandsoulfoundation.org
PRIZES:
The ten shortlisted projects received a certificate and gardening tools restored in prisons as part of The Conservation Foundation’s Tools Shed Gold project, tulips donated by Taylors Bulbs and gardening gloves given by the Worshipful Company of Glovers. Winners of the Allchurches Trust Community Nurture Award and Mind and Soul Foundation Growing Calm Award both received a prize of £750. The overall winner of the Church Times Award received £2,000 and the Gardening Against The Odds trophy.. The awards are also supported by The Mercers’ Company.
SPEAKERS:
David Buck, Senior Fellow, Public Health and Inequalities, The King’s Fund
Professor Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director of Science and Collections
Professor Harriet Gross, Professor of Psychology, University of Lincoln
Professor Jim McManus, President of the Guild of Health and St Raphael
Further press information: Lindsay Swan, [email protected] 07961 181982 or David Shreeve, [email protected] 07831 387745