A total of £4500 was allocated in July 2017 to the Lewis and Harris Horticultural Producers (LHHP) to allow them to support 50 people throughout the year who are in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse or suffer from mental health issues.

Participants will be encouraged to use the horticultural project as a ‘green gym’, thus promoting physical exercise and the building facility will be used by the ‘Move More’ project and Health Promotion staff to deliver training.

The project will also be available to the NHS Western Isles Occupational Therapy Department, who will use horticulture as a form of therapy and rehabilitation.

Volunteer labour is used by LHHP who want the project to be as ‘green’ and off-grid as possible while still encouraging more people to visit and get involved in the allotments as part of their relaxation and to improve their diet and knowledge of growing produce.

These additional services will help to expand on the already successful outdoor vegetable growing activity and will benefit participants’ physical and mental health.

For further information please contact Mary Maclean, Fas Fallain Manager, tel. 01851 762014 or email marymaclean1@nhs.net