Enham Over Garden Visit & Community Collaboration

Ongoing planning discussion between two collaborators (main speaker and TJ) about engaging a group in outdoor activities.
Geography:
- Enham Over (village within Enham) ≈ primary venue.
- Andover referenced frequently (nearest large town).
Organisations named:
- “Kitchen and Giving Garden” (community garden space).
- Andover Food Partnerships → receives donated produce.
- Andover Mind (mental-health charity running a gardening club).
- “Michael’s little project” (another garden-related initiative).

Situated at Enham Over; speaker repeatedly invites TJ’s group to visit.
Described as “beautiful” and worth visiting even just to sit quietly.
Garden structured for both food production and biodiversity:
- Beds for fruit/veg.
- Pollinator-friendly planting scheme.

“Kitchen and Giving Garden” mission: grow fresh produce → donate to Andover Food Partnerships.
Community steering-group goal: recruit volunteers, widen participation, strengthen food-security for locals.
Ethical angle: Giving time benefits both volunteers (well-being, skills) and wider community (healthy food access).

Main speaker sits on steering group specifically to:
- Encourage new helpers (including TJ’s service-users / “gents”).
- Ensure produce pipeline to food partnership remains strong.
Open invitation for TJ’s participants to become regular volunteers.

Pure gardening tasks:
- Planting sessions (possible collaboration with Michael on the day).
- Routine maintenance (weeding, watering, harvesting).
Creative / educational add-ons:
- Smartphone photography challenge — “best nature / pollinator pic”.
- Art in the garden (sketching, painting, crafting with natural materials).
- Scavenger hunt format for pollinator spotting.
Flexible length: recommendation ≥ 1 h (“an hour will fly”).

Current biodiversity status:
- “So many pollinators” due to planting design.
- Observed on one recent Sunday: 3 different butterfly species, numerous hoverflies, various bees.
Main speaker recorded short video clips; daughter editing a montage for promotional post.
Educational significance: reinforces lessons on ecosystems, importance of habitat design in food gardens.

Ideal period: late summer / early autumn.
- September: still high pollinator activity.
- October: “should still be alright”; after that vegetation dies back.
Weather contingency: event can proceed “even if rainy” due to undercover facilities.

Possible to integrate session with Michael’s planting plans.
Volunteers from TJ’s group could later self-refer to Andover Mind to join regular Tuesday sessions:
- Andover Mind schedule: alternating Tuesdays (Andover one week, Basingstoke next).
- Current challenge: Andover Mind rebuilding momentum after staff turnover.

Typical flow proposed:
1. TJ’s group meets at their school → breakfast.
2. Travel to garden.
3. 1-2 h activity block (gardening / photography / art / scavenger hunt).
Working hours constraint for speaker: 9\text{–}5, Monday–Friday.
TJ to “ping” (send) exact date, time, and mobile number so calendars can be checked.
Speaker currently on phone; can’t open calendar during call but will verify availability afterward.
Weekend mention: both busy on upcoming Sunday (lead car for Pride of Andover procession — recognition from last year’s “Pride of Andover” awards).

TJ to supply:
- Proposed event date & timetable.
- Details of any “end of vision” meetings (speaker was invited but needs info).
- Mobile number for direct coordination.
Speaker will:
- Check diary.
- Confirm availability.
- Potentially organise planting materials if requested.

Some participants may become regular garden-team members → strengthens volunteer base.
Wider collaboration between TJ’s organisation, Andover Mind, and kitchen garden enhances community mental health, food security, and social cohesion.

Garden visit valuable even for quiet reflection.
Emphasis on inclusivity: activity adaptable whether children accompany adults or not (though present plan assumes adults only).
Underlines importance of keeping momentum during organisational staff changes (case of Andover Mind).
Multiple modes of engagement (physical, creative, social) help reach diverse interests and abilities.