Mayfield Wellbeing Centre, Garden Centre and Cafe provides a safe and supportive environment for people with Dementia to build confidence and develop new skills through a fun and caring approach to gardening. If you require specialist 1:1 support to comfortably enjoy Mayfield's services, you are welcome to bring a carer or loved one.

At Mayfield we:

• Have trained staff who understand the issues and challenges faced by people with Dementia.
• Provide a tailored gardening plan with a person-centered approach.
• Offer a wide range of gardening activities for both people with Dementia and carers.

What can gardening at Mayfield do for you?

Research shows that Dementia gardening:

• Can double overall wellbeing in six months.
• Promotes a feeling of self-identity and independence.
• Improves mood and orientation.
• Reduces anxiety and offers a sense of achievement.

At Mayfield Garden Centre and Cafe we understand that everyone has a different experience with Dementia; we are here to help you re-connect with friends and family.

For more information call us for a chat on: 023 8044 7743.

Mayfield men's shed is a community space to connect, converse and create, every Thursday morning at 10am at Mayfield Garden Centre and Cafe

Men's shed activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, except Men's Sheds are a space to enjoy these activities together. They are a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, practice skills, enjoy making and mending, help reduce loneliness and have fun!

What is a men's shed?

Men's Sheds are kitted out community spaces where men can enjoy practical hobbies. They're about making friends, learning and sharing skills. Many folks come just for the tea and banter - everyone is welcome! Find out more from the Men's Shed Association

Why are they needed?

For a long time, research has show the negative impact of loneliness and isolation on a person's mental health and wellbeing. Men typically find it more difficult to build social connections than women, and unlike women of a similar age, less older men have networks of friends, and rarely share personal concerns about health and personal worries. Sheds allow men to deal with mental health challenges more easily and remain independent. Shed's rebuild community, and in many cases, they save men's lives.

Are men's sheds just for older people?

No! Many of the men who attend are retired but you don't have to be. This is because life after employment can be difficult and men often feel they have lost a sense of purpose and place in the world leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Men's sheds offer a vital community space to promote and facilitate conversations about men's mental health.

Can women attend men's shed?

Yes! All genders are welcome at our men's shed. Most men's sheds exist for the benefit they bring to men's mental health and wellbeing as they facilitate conversations about subjects men may find it difficult to open up about. This being said, Mayfield's men's shed celebrates and encourages diversity so all are welcome!

Behind the garden walls of Mayfield Park in Southampton, we have an inviting and tranquil green space that provides a wonderful backdrop for our Wellbeing Services. Mayfield Garden Centre and Cafe provides a supportive, therapeutic environment away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We welcome all members of the community and will empower individuals to improve their wellbeing through therapeutic programmes, connecting with horticulture and nature.

What is Wellbeing?

Wellbeing is about feeling good on the inside and on the outside. It's something we all need to think about, especially during these difficult times, and we can provide you with the tools to help you get back on track. Everyone has their own way of dealing with the day to day pressures that life brings, whether that is baking, reading, being at one with nature or playing sport. Here at Mayfield we understand that each person is different, and that is what makes our wellbeing services so special.

Mayfield Wellbeing Centre at Mayfield Garden Centre and Cafe is friendly and welcoming with an informal atmosphere, making it a great place to meet others. Our programmes are designed to help individuals towards recovery. We also offer private and confidential emotional support, and one-to-one help to raise aspirations, goals and ambitions. Our aim is to develop and reinforce people’s strengths while they try to achieve their goals in their journey towards recovery.

You don't have to have a diagnosed mental health issue to access our programmes. You could be experiencing mental health issues, wanting to increase physical, social and community activity, develop new skills or want to learn more about overall wellbeing.

To find out more about our 2023/24 programmes please email: JGardner@solentmind.org.uk

Plants for people’s community development worker Duncan Reade and Karen Powers lead gardening initiatives to improve open spaces, community connections and positive wellbeing in communities, creating safe spaces to grow, learn and get to know your neighbours.

Participants don’t need any equipment or experience and all sessions are on a free, drop in basis. The gardening workshops are open to all ages and abilities from absolute beginners to keen gardeners.

Our projects run all the way through the year, so you can still get involved no matter what the weather. In the colder months, wrap up warm!

Community Garden Sites

• Shirley Towers (Shirley)
• Hightown Towers (Thornhill)
• Dempsey Close (Sholing)
• Marsh House (Holyrood Estate)
• Irving Road (Maybush/ Millbrook)
• Canberra Towers (Weston)
• Oslo Towers (Weston)

To keep up to date with all the latest Plants For People news please follow us on: Facebook

Contact Us

For more information on plants for people and the initiatives in your area, please contact:

Duncan Reade - community development worker - mobile: 07816 115 245 email: dreade@solentmind.org.uk

Karen Powers - mobile: 07968106176 email: kpowers@solentmind.org.uk

Planting the new Southampton Green Network – come and help it to grow!

Lots of people across Southampton are involved with green projects – from tree planting, to food growing, to encouraging biodiversity, community gardens and allotments, to groups looking after local parks and open spaces. We’re also recognizing the huge value in green activities for our health and wellbeing, and for sustainable communities.

We know that bringing together people who share a passion and an interest means we can support each other, share ideas, make it easier for people to find local green projects to get involved with, apply for funding and develop projects together.

So Southampton Voluntary Services and Mayfield have teamed up to facilitate the setting up of a green network and we’d love you to be part of it, please get in touch with Duncan Reade for more info: mobile: 07816 115 245 email: dreade@mayfieldnurseries.org.uk

Plants for People project is a joint initiative between Mayfield Garden Centre and Cafe and Southampton City Council and gratefully acknowledges the support from The National Lottery Community Fund.

You can contact us with enquires during the following times:

Monday: 8.30am - 4pm
Tuesday: 8.30am - 4pm
Wednesday: 8.30am - 4pm
Thursday: 8.30am - 4pm
Friday: 8.30am - 4pm
Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm

Mayfield Garden Centre and Cafe
Mayfield Park
Weston Lane
Southampton
SO19 9HL

T: 023 8044 7743
E: enquiriesmayfield@solentmind.org.uk

To find out more about our garden centre and cafe, visit our website.