WITHYWOOD: LATEST UPDATE

MEET THE TEAM

BECKY
Volunteer/gardener with a special interest in plants and gardening for health

PHAEDRA
Founder/Director and Corrie’s mum

ALEX
Part-time Gardener

BRIONY
P.A for Corrie, volunteer and gardener

CORRIE
The Inspiration for Withywood

WITHYWOOD: A POTTED HISTORY

17th & 18th Century

The walled gardens of Withywood belong to the Berkley Estate but very little is known of Berkley House and its gardens prior to the 17th century. It came into the possession of John Prowse (through marriage) in 1670 and then in 1727, Abigail Prowse, his daughter in law and birth daughter of George Hooper, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, commissioned architect Nathaniel Ireson, to take down the front of the old house and build a new one in the Palladian style.

See the two distinct architectural styles in the image above showing the rear of the building being much older than the Georgian front.

Fast forward to the 21st Century

These two distinct architectural styles is what remains today and is in the possession of the Philips family since the early 1960’s. It was Grade 2* listed in 1968 along with the walled gardens.

Founder and Director of Withywood, Phaedra Politis, a mother of a young adult with additional needs, moved into accommodation on the Berkley Estate, which had no garden attached. Knowing deep down that her daughter needed access to nature and outdoor space, Phaedra searched for local nature-based day services that her daughter could attend. Discovering the lack of provision locally for these types of activities, especially for adults with additional needs, Phaedra decided to inquire with the Estate Manager whether her daughter and herself could have access to the two derelict walled gardens on the estate. After negotiations an agreement was made and both Phaedra and her daughter began clearing the gardens of years of brambles. The more that was cleared, the more Phaedra witnessed the positive impact it was having on her daughters’ well-being, both mentally and physically and could see that the gardens were becoming a nurturing and healing place for her. This initiated the realisation that the space could be shared with more individuals who need these same benefits but don't have the opportunity to access anything similar locally. 

Withywood CIC was set up in April 2023.

WHO IS WITHYWOOD FOR?

  • Adults with additional needs

  • Children with additional needs

  • Students who require Alternative Provision to mainstream education

  • Groups from other organisations who are in need of being involved with outside creative activities

  • NHS patients signposted to us for Nature/Green prescriptions

  • Local community of gardeners

  • Volunteers

WHAT WE DO & WHY

  • We have fun

  • We clear brambles

  • We weed the garden

  • We make things

  • We cook

  • We have fires

  • We sow seeds and plant them

  • We go for walks on the estate

  • We harvest the vegetables

  • We have seasonal craft sessions

WHY?

Being outdoors is good for us

  • Improves mood and mental health

  • Gives us vitamin D exposure

  • Improves physical fitness

  • Improves concentration and creativity

  • Improves sleep quality

  • Creates social connections

  • Boosts the immune system

  • Reduces screen time

  • It’s good fun!