Finding Solace in the Soil: How Gardening Helped One Woman Overcome Mental Health Struggles
Dawn Parker, a 55-year-old from Pontypridd, experienced a profound turning point in 2019. After years dedicated to helping others through children’s services, social work, and job coaching, she found herself battling burnout, anxiety, and depression. This period of intense struggle forced her to re-evaluate her life and seek a path towards healing and well-being.
A Lifelong Battle with Anxiety
Dawn’s struggles with anxiety had been simmering beneath the surface for much of her life. The roots of this anxiety stretched back to her childhood, marked by the early loss of her father to a brain haemorrhage at the age of 46, when she was just 10. She became a young carer for her mother, who also experienced mental health issues. This difficult situation led Dawn to leave home at 16. Further tragedy struck when her mother passed away from a stroke and heart attack when Dawn was 26, leaving her a young wife and mother.
Adding to these existing traumas, Dawn experienced domestic violence as a child. The cumulative effect of these events led to recurring bouts of anxiety and depression. The year 2019 proved particularly challenging, exacerbated by a surgically induced menopause following a hysterectomy. The sudden hormonal shift intensified her mental health struggles, leading her to what she describes as an “all-time low”.
Faced with the overwhelming nature of her depression, Dawn realised she needed to make significant changes to create space for healing and improve her mental well-being.
Discovering the Therapeutic Power of Horticulture
Seeking a new direction, Dawn discovered Thrive, a charity that harnesses the power of gardening to improve the lives of individuals living with disabilities or ill health. Having always found comfort in nature, she decided to enrol in a course focused on social and therapeutic horticulture.
Dawn recognised that nature had long been a source of solace for her. When overwhelmed, she would find peace by walking in local woodlands or fields, returning feeling calmer and happier. She likened this experience to the comfort some find in religious practice, describing nature as something that calmed her mind.
Although she had always dabbled in gardening, she had not fully recognised its potential until she consciously considered what was important to her. As a work coach, she often helped others identify their passions and aspirations. This process prompted her to realise that her true calling lay in working with people in natural surroundings. This realisation became a pivotal moment, lifting her depression and inspiring her to move forward. She wanted to combine her skills in supporting others with the therapeutic benefits of horticulture and nature, a source of grounding and happiness for her.
From Volunteer to Advocate: A Community Garden Blooms
Following her course, Dawn became involved with the Meadow Street Community Garden in Treforest. This project transformed a disused patch of land into a thriving community space filled with flowers and fresh produce. The garden’s success, even in the face of adversity like flooding, was celebrated earlier this year with a visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Dawn describes her experience volunteering and later working at the garden as transformative. It helped her overcome her anxiety and depression, fostering a sense of connection to her community. The garden opened doors and grew, and she felt fortunate to be a part of it.
Happy Boots: Cultivating Wellbeing Through Nature
Driven by her passion for gardening and her desire to help others, Dawn established Happy Boots Horticultural Therapy in 2022. The aim was to use outdoor activities to improve mental health. Since dedicating herself to the project full-time in January, Happy Boots has flourished.
Dawn runs weekly “Wellbeing Through Nature” sessions at Calon Taf in Ynysangharad Park. These sessions introduce gardening to people with mild to moderate mental health needs. Happy Boots CIC recently received a grant of £19,340 from The National Lottery Community Fund’s National Lottery Awards for All programme, which supports the delivery of these weekly sessions.
These sessions use gardening as a tool to build connections, bringing together people who share a love of nature. They create a safe and supportive space where participants can work with plants, chat, and enjoy a cup of tea. One participant noted how lovely it was to simply “feel part of something,” encapsulating the programme’s core aim. Others have been inspired to pursue training or change careers, illustrating the profound impact the programme can have.
Resilience and Reducing Stigma
While Dawn is now thriving in her work, she acknowledges that she still experiences mental health challenges. However, she has developed greater resilience. It has taken her years to become comfortable sharing her struggles, but she believes it is important to talk about mental health to help others.
Dawn still has bad days, but finds that being out in nature and gardening helps her cope. She strongly encourages anyone struggling with their mental health to pursue their interests, whether it be painting, sewing, walking, or gardening, as these activities can be incredibly grounding.
Dawn is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. While it has been a battle to open up about her experiences, particularly the trauma from her past, she has reached a point where she accepts herself and her story. She sees the positive impact her openness has on those around her and is determined to use her experiences to help others.