A NORTH-EAST man has combined his love of gardening with his experience of working in mental health to set up an innovative business.

Gary Park has established Growing Health, an organisation offering social therapeutic horticulture as a mobile service to a variety of community groups, such as dementia, mental health, youth and men’s groups.

It also visits homes for the elderly.

Social therapeutic horticulture uses gardening as therapy to improve wellbeing, and the practice is said to improve social, educational, psychological and physical wellbeing, improving body, mind and spirit.

Mr Park, 48, from Peterlee, County Durham, said he noted a gap in the market for such a business, and is already looking to expand the service across the North-East.

“I have a strong horticultural background and have worked as an NHS mental health specialist for a number of years.

“I wanted to find a way I could help others with my green-fingered passion and had noted there had been a continuous gap in the market for a service like the one I offer,” he said.

“Offering social therapeutic horticulture as a mobile service means that it’s more accessible for service users.

Bringing the service to them means that they don’t have to make the sometimes difficult trip out.

“Once established, I’d love to set up as a social enterprise and expand the programme across the whole of the North- East, employing staff, recruiting volunteers and offering horticultural therapy training.”

Each session will include a variety of activities, such as plant potting, flower arranging, seed sowing and bonsai tending. Mr Park will also monitor each participant’s involvement and improvement.

His venture was set up with support from Be Enterprising, Durham County Council’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative programme.

Amanda Hennessy, Mr Park’s Be Enterprising coach, said: “It’s been an absolute joy working with Gary.

“When he initially came to us, I proposed he began by piloting a few taster sessions to potential clients, such as the NHS, primary care trusts and local community groups.

This way he could build up a portfolio of clients and get feedback.

“It’s so rewarding to know that his work will benefit people and bring the joy of gardening into the lives of others.”