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

In July 2017 funding was awarded to Dun Eisdean Care Home, Stornoway, to develop a therapeutic project for alzheimers patients, family and staff, which will be based in the newly built polytunnel.

Funding will enable those to be encouraged to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, with the produce subsequently used in the care home’s kitchen for residents.

Maintenance of the project will be carried out by the resident handyman who has already successfully grown strawberries and herbs in the tunnel.  Funding was used to purchase tables to work on (potting, etc), including tables and seating appropriate for dementia patients, as well as pots, seeds, strawberry plants and equipment.

This project managed by Dun Eisdean project provides:

• continued Peer support opportunities for people with dementia
• increased and continued community connections
• increase of meaningful therapeutic activity which reduces stress and distress and promotes self-esteem, positive identity and purpose
• intervention for carers – contact, support and respite
• increased reach for people with dementia that do not use core services.

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