A funding boost for the Eco Therapy Garden CIC team based next to Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre (PCRC) in Kirkby, Merseyside, with Community Health Partnerships and Renova (LIFTCo), funding new equipment supporting gardening activities at the thriving community garden. CHP provided £2.4k for two hexagonal planters and two picnic benches, with Renova contributing a further £1.5k. The plants were grown in their greenhouse, by the volunteers and the team from the Eco Therapy Garden.
Community Health Partnerships is the head tenant at Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre, with the building constructed in 2005, and owned by health investor Renova LIFTCo (part of Fulcrum Infrastructure Group) under the NHS LIFT programme that brings together CHP, a key part of the NHS family (head tenant), with Renova an investor in 17 community healthcare facilities in the North West.
Tower Hill provides a range of health and social care services under one roof for the local community, including GP teams.
A garden space was created in 2018 on an area of land behind the health centre by local community group The Eco Therapy Garden CIC (www.facebook.com/theecotherapygarden), who provide eco therapy and talking therapy for those struggling with social isolation, mental health conditions, or physical health concerns. The GP practices at Tower Hill already have strong links with The Eco Therapy Garden through referring patients as part of a social prescribing programme, planning to continue links between the health centre and the thriving garden project run by Angela Davies.
New activities for 2025 include:
- New planters with planting to encourage health eating
New raised planters (made from recycled plastic) were installed at the front and rear of the health centre and planted with herbs and edible flowers. The planters will further support an existing ‘Grow Your Own’ project where residents are educated on how to grow healthy fresh food. - A new pagoda space to support year-round community sessions – a custom-built pagoda were installed next to Tower Hill Primary Care Centre, offering an all-weather space that can be used for a range of community activities, including yoga sessions, Tai Chi and other social gatherings.
- Gardening awareness days – a series of gardening awareness days will also be held in a meeting room at Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre, helping to promote public engagement with the garden and educate residents about the benefits of gardening.
The Eco-Therapy Garden provides a vital green space adjacent to the Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre, offering individuals a place to connect with nature, improve their mental health, and combat social isolation. The garden's personalised eco-therapy and talking therapy programmes have proven invaluable for those facing a range of health challenges, and we are proud to support them as they develop the garden further.
Tower Hill and The Eco Therapy Garden both already play a vital role in the local community, so this additional funding will help create even stronger links between the garden and the health centre. We’re proud to help fund some exciting new additions and look forward to seeing the thriving garden space continue to support the wellbeing of the community.
About the Eco Therapy Garden CIC
The Eco Therapy Garden CIC in Kirkby is a community initiative focused on improving the health and wellbeing of residents through nature-based activities and therapeutic support.
Key activities and contributions include:
- Eco and talking therapies
- Community garden development
- Food growing and horticultural skills
- Combating social isolation and improving mental wellbeing
The Eco Therapy Garden supports a wide range of individuals, including families, neuro-diverse children, young adults with complex learning needs, adults with complex mental health needs, and people referred by social prescribing link workers and other health professionals.
The strong links between the garden and the GP teams at Tower Hill are evident, with over 80% of volunteers joining via social prescribing. This highlights the garden’s positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of the community served by the Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre.
Recent successes
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was awarded to The Eco Therapy Garden at Towerhill Primary Care Resource Centre. This is the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK. This remarkable achievement recognises the invaluable contributions of the dedicated volunteers who run the garden and the positive impact it has on the local community.
Mark Blundell, Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, the King’s representative, visited Towerhill on 27 January 2025 to officially present the award to Angela Davies, who runs the garden, meet volunteers, and tour the garden.
Funding from NHS Forest for fruit trees at the Eco Therapy Garden
NHS Forest provided 30 fruit trees free of charge that were planted on 24 March 2025, overseen by Angela Davies and the team. Volunteers from the local Amazon Hub, the Allotment Officer from Knowsley Council, and several NHS health centre staff members were on hand to assist with planting, with local residents, pupils and staff from Ravencroft Primary School.
NHS Forest Award 2024 runner up
The Eco Therapy Garden was recognised as a runner-up for the Innovative Development of Green Space at a Health Site Award at the NHS Forest awards in 2024. Watch on YouTube with a social prescriber explaining how they can link up with people to get involved at the Eco Therapy Garden.
This collaborative effort highlights the strong community spirit surrounding the Tower Hill garden project and underscores our CHP’s commitment to providing accessible green spaces and promoting healthy living for everyone.
Find out more about Buildings at the Heart of the Community
CHP’s Buildings at the Heart of the Community initiative aims to encourage local community groups and charities to make the most of our buildings by enabling the use of space in our centres to host health and wellbeing related events.
