Bridewell Gardens gain a new space in which to heal

Recent times have had a huge impact on everyone and provided us all with time to reflect how important families and community is to us. Making time to consider our own and others well-being and mental health has been highlighted during lockdown and more importantly those who actively help on a day to day basis have now been recognised as playing a vital part in the lives of many. One of the amazing organisations helping support adults with mental ill health happens to be Red Sky’s neighbours in rural Oxfordshire – the wonderful charity Bridewell Gardens.

Adam Bennett, Director at Red Sky Shepherd’s Huts comments “The wonderful team at Bridewell provide mental health support with social and therapeutic horticulture in a working garden environment. The staff and volunteers do invaluable work supporting people with severe and enduring mental ill health on their recovery path. We felt really strongly that we wanted to help in some shape or form and one day it just occurred to us, let’s provide one of our Mini Huts for the gardeners, it’s a great space for a quiet retreat and well deserved restful cuppa.”

The hut has smartened up our orchard area hugely. It is completely in keeping with the outdoor environment and blended into the Bridewell orchard seamlessly. The chickens have already made it their home perching on the steps. It looks like it has always been there. Thank you, Red Sky Shepherd’s Huts!”

The Bridewell vineyard produces some highly acclaimed organic wines and those lucky enough to receive a new hamper along with their new shepherd’s hut will undoubtedly be able to sample this wine for themselves. Adam added “The Mini Hut is just the start of our relationship with Bridewell, and we are also hoping to plan a variety of other ways to support the charity both over the coming months and year ahead, so watch this space”. To find out more about the amazing work by Bridewell Gardens or see the next open day to visit the gardens is please see https://www.bridewellgardens.co.uk

Rachel Green, Fundraising & Communications Officer at Bridewell added her thoughts on the Mini Hut, “We are so thrilled to work with Red Sky Shepherd’s Huts and to have one of their delightful Shepherd’s huts on long-term loan in the Bridewell vineyard. From the huge generosity of one of our neighbours and new friends and partners we now have a new magical space in the heart of the gardens.

This kind gesture resonates deeply with Bridewell as not only does it characterise the bighearted response from our local community but also represents excellent craftmanship and skills and working with natural materials - all of which chime with Bridewell’s ethos. We are so excited to have this new space and have really enjoyed using the hut as a unique meeting room with wonderful views overlooking the chicken coop and to the vineyard beyond.