College plants donated to mental health charity
Work on improving the accessibility of Nuffield’s quads has meant a temporary disruption to our gardens, so some of our plants needed to find new homes. Over the summer, the College was delighted to donate 206 plants to Restore, a local charity which helps people to take control of their mental health through a variety of therapeutic activities – including gardening. These activities help people to gain confidence, develop new skills and spend time with others, and we are very pleased that our plants are already being put to such good use.
The Nuffield plants have been re-potted and are being made ready for winter, with Restore’s service users working hard to keep them warm and healthy during the colder weather while improving their own mental health through the well-documented benefits of gardening.
Professor Jane Green, Nuffield Fellow in Political Science and British Politics, has been the driving force behind this initiative. She says: “We had a lot of plants we would lose as we make our college more accessible. So much better to donate them to Restore. I hope our contribution underlines our commitment to well-being, our gratitude for our resources, and our recognition of the importance of investing in our mental health.”