Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any costs?
Grow for Life sessions are free of charge.
Where do sessions take place?
Grow for Life sessions take place in designated garden sites in or around Bath.
Many of our gardening sessions now take place at Grow for Life's new HQ: our very own Walled Garden in Newton St Loe which you can read more about here.
Grow for Life run sessions in private gardens, supporting individuals who welcome or require help in maintaining their garden. Many of these are elderly or ill residents who are unable to care for their garden independently.
Gardeners often reflect that they find it rewarding to help another person in need by being part of a team helping to restore their garden. Caleb*, a current gardener, shared: “It feels good to be helping someone. I’ve learnt a lot and want to do more gardening work.”
Grow for Life also has a small number of gardening sites in the grounds of local care homes where teams work to maintain areas of the garden.
All session venues are assessed for suitability and are risk-assessed.
How many sessions do gardeners typically attend?
New joiners are given the option to attend a trial session to see what it is like. If they wish to continue as a new gardener, they are asked to commit to attending weekly gardening sessions for a three-month period.
Grow for Life provides a rolling programme of gardening sessions and so is usually able to accommodate those who wish to continue gardening over a longer period.
Many gardeners choose to stay on for a longer period, up to a maximum of two years.
Are gardeners expected to travel independently to sessions?
New gardeners are encouraged to travel to sessions independently where possible. When necessary we provide transport to gardens from central pick up points. However our gardeners are expected to travel independently to sessions at the Royal Victoria Parks Nurseries.
Are toilets available during gardening session?
All sites have access to toilets.
Who leads Grow for Life gardening sessions?
Gardening sessions are led by Grow for Life staff and volunteers. Visit our "Meet the Team" page for more information.
Do gardeners get to take home any of the produce they grow?
New gardeners are sometimes given produce to take home, such as vegetables, fruit or cut flowers. However this is at the discretion of the garden host or session leader depending on the session venue.