The Lost Plot Celebrates 10 Years of Growing Recovery, Friendship and Hope
A community gardening project that has helped people rebuild their lives through recovery from alcohol and drug issues has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a party at its Woodhouse Moor allotment.
The Lost Plot, run by Hyde Park Source, welcomed current members, former participants and volunteers to mark a decade of providing a safe, supportive space where people in recovery can connect with nature, build friendships and maintain their wellbeing.
For many of those attending, the celebration was a chance to reflect on how a once-derelict allotment has become a place of lasting friendships and personal transformation.
Andy, who has been attending almost since the project began 10 years ago, said of the Lost Plot: “I
Andy added: “It’s really good for your mental health. If you want to find out more, come here and meet the team. We’re all a friendly bunch. We talk, we crack on with work. You don’t have to come and do anything at all. You can come and talk about your problems or, if you don’t want to talk, just get stuck in with everybody.
Among the first people to join the project was Denise, who was introduced to the allotment through Forward Leeds after expressing an interest in gardening.
“It was just bare bones when we came,” she recalled. “At the beginning, there was just me, Leona, Behla and Stuart. Then Andy and Steve came pretty soon afterwards.”
“I became firm friends with the people that I met initially. We stayed in touch. It made me realise I wasn’t on my own,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what part of society you’re from, whether you’re rich or poor, educated or not, we can all fall into the trap of addiction.”
Although she stepped back from attending regularly two years ago as work and other commitments
“I’ve missed them. It’s been lovely to see them,” she said.
Behla Hutchinson who works for Hyde Park Source and has led the group since it was established, said watching members grow in confidence and build lives beyond addiction has been the most rewarding part of the past decade.
“It’s meant a lot to me personally to be part of people’s journeys,” she said. “It’s been beautiful to see people’s friendships grow and relationships grow outside of the group.”
Reflecting on seeing former members return for the anniversary celebration Behla said: “It was very emotional. It was like a family reunion.”
Rather than focusing solely on recovery, Behla believes the group’s success comes from creating a welcoming environment where recovery happens naturally.
“People can go at their own pace,” she said. “We’re not jumping on them with recovery, but it happens in a solid, steady sort of sneaky way.
“People enjoy being here, enjoy the community, enjoy being active, growing things and learning about nature. As part of that, it helps them sustain their recovery in quite a holistic way.”
The anniversary gathering brought together people from every stage of The Lost Plot’s history, with former members and volunteers returning to celebrate alongside current participants.
For many, it was more than marking 10 years of gardening it was a celebration of recovery, resilience and a community that continues to flourish long after people leave the allotment.