A Bournemouth man says working with plants at Cherry Tree Nursery helped him overcome addiction, homelessness and long term mental health challenges after years of instability, prison sentences and repeated attempts to rebuild his life.
Andrew is a team member at Cherry Tree Nursery in Bournemouth, operated by the charity Plants and Minds, which provides horticultural therapy for adults experiencing life impacting mental health conditions.
He says the structured routine, outdoor work and supportive community succeeded where other approaches had failed, helping him rebuild self belief and stability after decades of addiction and repeated periods of homelessness.
Andrew describes a childhood shaped by strict control, neglect and abuse, followed by early behavioural difficulties, exclusion from school and exposure to alcohol and drugs during his teenage years. By adulthood, his life was dominated by addiction, repeated prison sentences and sleeping rough in Bournemouth, including nights spent in gardens and under the pier, with little hope of long term change.
He says joining Cherry Tree Nursery marked a turning point, adding that “working with plants taught me to stop thinking only about myself and gave me purpose, direction and accountability”.
Now volunteering twice a week, Andrew says the nursery has improved his mental and physical health, provided access to on site support services and given him a sense of community and achievement.
He says Cherry Tree offers hope to others in crisis, explaining that “no matter how far you have fallen, working with plants gives you time to reflect, connect with people and start grounding yourself again”.
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