Headway Garden Stuns at Summer Open Day – 5th July 2025

Headway Leicester opened its doors this passing Saturday, welcoming all to a day of summer fun celebrating the fruits of their restored garden. The open day delivered as promised on a Funday of games, prizes, good food and friends, and sun as the weather held.

The fundraising event was a resounding success, and all money put forward by the community will be reinvested in the space, aiming to update their run down greenhouse with a brand new version to ready the garden for summer’s end.

It was a pleasure to see the art produced by members inspired by their new space, and the sense of achievement from all involved in breathing new life into it. Recently refurbished to improve accessibility to members, the charity’s new patio and seating areas became a hub of activity on Saturday. A stall was set up vending houseplants and ornamental grasses, propagated from those grown onsite, and queues formed for games of bean bag toss, ring toss, and hook-a-duck, with prizes given out to a few lucky winners.

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Inside the centre, those sheltering from the sun could enjoy an array of summer treats with cakes, ice creams and hotdogs served. A busy tombola saw many children participating in games one-handed, clinging to new books, stuffed animals and lollies, and a facepainting stand became a clear favourite to visitors of all ages. Guests included Headway’s Walking Poet – Michael Gardner– who hand signed work for any fans, and will be the expert consulted on the new greenhouse.

Councillor Zuffar Haq also made an appearance, meeting with members, appreciating the increasingly green space and joining in on the games.

Established in 1990 and operating throughout the midlands, Headway Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland remains committed to providing specialist support to individuals after a brain injury. The garden has opened up a new space to members of the organisation’s day service, fostering confidence, independence and self-expression amongst its members, centring community and understanding.

To find out more visit https://headwayleicester.org.uk

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Leicester Charity Headway Flourishes with New Garden

Members of Headway’s day service – a national charity dedicated to supporting individuals after a brain injury – celebrate as their new garden flourishes.

Uplifted from an overlooked plot of land, Headway’s dedicated team have worked hard to restore their local site’s garden into a newly thriving green area. With its most recent renovation having just been completed, the space is now repaved to improve access for Headway members, allowing easy entry to enjoy their seating area and pond. A raised bed now runs alongside the patio, already put to use housing the sunflowers potted and grown from seed during the charity’s day service, which is now a source of friendly competition as the shoots flourish.

Headway’s garden team, composed of staff and members alike, have put the garden to work with a variety of annual flowers and vegetables also, making a busy beginning to harvest-time. The french and runner beans are now in full bloom, with some produce eaten at the centre with much more to take home, and the promise of a successful crop of potatoes grown from bags is a source of excitement for many.

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The latest activities have attracted more than just human attention, with pollinators taking up residence in the increasingly green space. The calendula has been claimed by a growing population of ladybirds, and a nest of bumblebees rests tucked under the soil beside the pond.

This month, the charity opened its doors to the refurbished space for a hugely successful summer funday, with visitors enjoying the outdoors as the weather held.

The money raised during the event will be dedicated to the garden’s latest project, a new greenhouse, with the current building in a state of disrepair. As the season closes, the build would provide a wider range of growing opportunities and extend the growing season, also allowing a chance for members to propagate new plants from cuttings.

The garden staff are pleased to say the old greenhouse will not go to waste, and will be recycled into cold frames to help plants grown within to transition into the outdoors. With the charity’s members at the helm of the garden’s development, the coming years will see efforts to continue encouraging wildlife into the garden, with a dedicated space for wildflowers and birdfeeders and more homes for pollinators.

With the plot now fully accessible, gardening has become another of many activities held during Headway Leicester’s day service that foster confidence, identity and a sense of belonging. The team’s ongoing efforts to create opportunities within the community hub have seen massive steps taken to develop the space around them, and the continued investment in the garden has become a great source of pride and camaraderie for all those involved.

To find out more visit https://headwayleicester.org.uk

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