'Gardening makes me glad to be alive after stroke'

7 hours ago

Tom MacDougalland

Emilia Martinez-Barnfather,North East and Cumbria

News image — Kenneth Thompson is one of around 75 volunteers who maintain Scotswood Community Garden

BBC/Emilia Martinez-Barnfather Kenneth Thompson, one of the volunteers at Scotswood Community Garden, who is smiling. He is a man in his late 60s wearing a red England football team bucket hat which is very frayed and faded, a pair of sunglasses, and a red fleeced jacket. — Kenneth Thompson is one of around 75 volunteers who maintain Scotswood Community Garden

A decade ago, Kenneth Thompson had 10 mini-strokes at once, which he said caused him to lose all his skills and left him struggling to talk.

Six months after, the 69-year-old from Newcastle joined Scotswood Community Garden - a local gardening initiative that hosts group sessions and community sessions.

He said: "I can express my joy I'm still here - I'm glad to be alive."

Thompson is one of around 75 local volunteers who help to keep the garden in bloom. On Saturday the group is hosting an event to celebrate the first blossoms on its fruit trees.

"Blossom Day" is held every spring by the charity which runs the garden and is one of its four annual events to commemorate each season, each featuring nature and crafts activities.

Karen Dobson The garden, which has paths running through planters filled with colourful flowers and trees. — The garden was first set up in 1995

The garden was first set up in 1995 on the site of a former school playing field and became a charity in 2012.

Alongside sessions for volunteers who maintain the garden, it also hosts events for children and schools, people with disabilities and additional needs, and people living in care homes.

Keith Bosomworth, also a volunteer - also smiling. He is a man in his mid-30s with thinning hair and wearing a jacket with a hoodie underneath. To one side behind him is a small allotment. Bamboo sticks to support the growing fruit or vegetables are pointing into the air. — Keith Bosomworth said the garden made him feel like he is part of a family

Fellow volunteer Keith Bosomworth, 35, from Shieldfield, has been helping in the garden since 2012 - making him its longest-running volunteer.

He said: "It makes me feel like I'm part of a family.

"I can talk to people, and I have good days or bad days, but I can come here and cheer myself up.

"I like helping people and showing them around, when we have days like the open day on Saturday, meeting new people feels really good - I feel proud."

BBC/Emilia Martinez-Barnfather Karen Dobson, a middle-aged woman with blonde hair and bright blue glasses. She is, also, smiling. She is wearing a green polo shirt and black, knitted cardigan. Behind her are bright yellow flowers which have been planted in the garden, and beyond that, we can see bushes and trees rising out of frame. — Karen Dobson, CEO of the charity which runs the garden, said their volunteers included asylum seekers

Charity chief executive Karen Dobson said: "Without our volunteers, we wouldn't have the garden."

She said they included asylum seekers living in the area.

"Lots of people come to use who gardened in their home countries so are really keen to come here, particularly if they're staying in accommodation without any green space," she said.

"Local people get to meet them and understand where they come from through growing vegetables, sharing cuisine and sharing stories.

"Gardening's a real leveller - everybody loves nature."

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