It all began with an idea…
In 2013, hoping to operate a pilot scheme that would provide horticultural therapy for local adults with mental-health issues, Lindengate’s founders, Charlie Powell and Sian Chattle, asked for a small plot on an underused allotment adjoining Wyevale Garden Centre near their homes in Wendover. The garden centre offered them the entire five acre site!
The site was waste high in thistles and brambles, broken greenhouses and sheds so it took a huge volunteer effort to clear the site and make the area ready to start offer wellbeing support to the local community. The name Lindengate comes from mixing the Old English name for a Lime tree – ‘Linden’, known for its recuperative and stress-relieving properties and the ‘Gate’, symbolising passing through on the journey to recovery.
The story continues …
10 years on the weeds have gone, the sheds are repaired and painted and two huge polytunnels have been constructed and there’s a yurt (which you can hire). The secret garden is now a stunning six acre wildlife garden with a Heritage Orchard, Nature Reserve, Kitchen Gardens and 2 RHS Chelsea Gold Award Winning Exhibits based next to Dobbie’s Garden Centre.
We work to promote and protect the physical and mental wellbeing of the general public by the provision of nature based activities in horticulture, conservation, heritage skills, arts and craft, woodworking and education.
We are working hard to find ways to help more people access and benefit from our wellbeing services and experience this magical place.
