Hammersmith Community Gardens Association

Hammersmith Community Gardens Association is a local environmental charity that manages several community gardens in West London. They run a range of projects including conservation training schemes, volunteer gardening sessions, health and wellbeing projects and more. Since 2015, HCGA have been delivering weekly bedside nature-based activities at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, giving patients a multi-sensory opportunity to engage with nature as they touch and smell herbs, petals and essential oils. Examples of activities include making lavender bags, potpourri, herb and flower bouquets, all using freshly-cut plants from the local community gardens.

For Virtual Connections, HCGA has put together a series of workshops for patients to follow along with while in hospital, or to try at home.