Garden Recovery
Garden Recovery is an initiative created by Steve Bates just over a year ago, when he found his recovery successful thanks to two organisations. One being Hollybush and the other being 5 Ways Recovery Services and had his idea of bringing the two together, “if it’s helped me, it’s bound to help others”, Steve states.
Hollybush is a part of TCV, ‘The Conservation Volunteers’ which is a National charity, one of the patrons being Sir David Attenborough. The ethos of TCV is to bring people together with green spaces, with the intention that both parties prosper from the experience. There is extensive research into the fact that getting out in the open and engaging with nature whilst doing a tangible/meaningful task has benefits towards our mental health, making Garden Recovery seem obvious.
Steve formulated a plan and applied through the recovery capital fund, which allowed him to get started. To do this would require a form of training, obtaining insurance along with enough funding for the required equipment to complete the task.
Hollybush offer a similar service to public spaces in the area. Unfortunatly they are not able to enter private premises due to legalities. This is a shame because of the number of people who need help with there garden but are unable because of health and/or mobility issues. When Garden Recovery started last June, Hollybush were able to provide training where a number of volunteers from 5 Ways were given the opportunity to work on one of these places.
An area opposite Hollybush by the Leeds Liverpool Canal had become overgrown with brambles, weeds and had become a dumping ground for rubbish. This was extremely disappointing, as the previous year, an orchard had been planted, and the lack of maintenance had made it completely overgrown. The volunteers from 5 Ways were able to, over the course of a few weeks, completely clear the area and open up the space, restoring it to its former glory.
From this experience, a good indication of the tools and work required was obvious; it was evident that a chipper would be needed for the sheer amount of green waste created. Over the coming weeks the garden recovery team were able to offer their services to places such as Grace Lodge, which serves as a halfway house for those struggling with housing, making their outside area much more pleasant.
Coming into 2026 Garden Recovery has formed a partnership with Forward Leeds housing team, who play a huge part in outsourcing their services to those who are unable to get to one of the service hubs. These residents are being put under pressure from the council or private landlords to keep their garden in order, which for some is an impossible task. From this meeting, five gardens were selected. This year Garden Recovery is going to attain its CIC ‘Community interest Company’ and join the group of LEROs within Leeds ‘Lived Experience Recovery Organisations’. This year will be all about bedding in what they started and making the group more efficient logistically, transforming gardens month on month.
How to get involved? Join their Facebook group ‘Garden Recovery Group‘ and send a message expressing your interest so that Steve can add you to the WhatsApp group. Allowing you to stay up to date with the times and locations of their next project.