A Poole-based charity-run garden centre has recorded a 150 percent rise in sales since it was transformed in 2019.
Chestnut Nursery, which supports adults with severe mental health conditions, has also seen a 300 percent increase in the number of its service users progressing into paid work over the past six years.
Run by the charity Plants and Minds, the nursery is located beside Poole Park and offers over 50 voluntary placements for people referred from local health services. The team members take part in horticultural therapy while gaining real retail and gardening experience.
The 2019 redevelopment introduced a flagship store built with Purbeck stone and powered by renewable energy, as well as an expanded growing area. It followed support from businesses, donors, and local trusts.
Nursery manager Andy Verreck said the modernisation made the project financially viable and enabled staff to offer professional horticultural training and a supportive working environment.
The nursery will hold a thank you event on Monday 7 July to mark the sixth anniversary of its redevelopment.
Team Members have praised the nursery for giving them structure, support, and helping them rebuild their lives. In 2024, the charity received 25 new referrals, with 22 people accepted onto the programme.
The charity’s Bournemouth-based sister project, Cherry Tree Nursery, is now in need of investment to upgrade its facilities.