Girls-only group creates safe space for young people to be active
Zarka created a physical activity space for Southampton girls.
Date: 26 March 2026 Author: Bethany Brown
People often don’t realise how active they’re being. Planting, watering and weeding includes a lot of up and down which helps to improve strength and balance, so it can be a great place to start.
From conversations with patients, I knew there were some who liked the idea of gardening clubs but felt too anxious to try ones already running in the community. I didn’t replicate other local provisions, but we noticed a gap. A stepping stone was needed to support people to get started so they could one day feel confident enough to join those other groups. This felt like a great way to meet people where they were.
Gardening is a gentle option for people wanting to begin or increase their physical activity levels. Especially for patients like ours who are managing long term health conditions so can worry about making symptoms worse. People often don’t realise how active they’re being. Planting, watering and weeding includes a lot of up and down which helps to improve strength and balance, so it can be a great place to start.
I had seen other GP surgeries making good use of small green spaces, as had our Practice Manager, so we worked together to try something similar. We’d previously run ‘Coffee and Plant’ sessions which were popular, so I wanted to build off those. To make sure we got it right, we invited patients to a co-design meeting where we showed them around the area, asked for their opinions on what it should become and discussed when the group should meet and how often. They helped to shape the final offer and that created a sense of ownership among attendees.
Having one positive group experience has made trying something new feel less daunting, which is exactly what we hoped this group would do.
Most attendees joined the gardening club for the chance to connect with others and spend time outdoors, and many really enjoyed the opportunity to chat in a relaxed setting. Although the sessions were promoted as “optional light gardening”, everyone got stuck in in some way. Even if that wasn’t during their first session. Some people just needed time to understand what the club was about and to feel comfortable in the environment before feeling confident enough to be active.
Some participants shared that they were dealing with difficult situations at home or struggling with other aspects of their wellbeing. For them, the club provided a valuable break from these challenges, offering a space to instead focus on something positive.
I think some of the most rewarding outcomes were the wider impacts of this group. After building trust and confidence through these sessions, some patients have gone on to have 1:1 support with a social prescriber. Others are now attending our monthly coffee mornings or exploring other groups. Having one positive group experience has made trying something new feel less daunting, which is exactly what we hoped this group would do.
The Gardening Club in action!
Strong collaboration was key. We worked with Men’s Shed, who donated raised planters and resources for the club. They also put in a weed membrane for us. What was really special was that they occasionally visited us to see how we were getting on! We also had fantastic support from Drayton Surgery, particularly the Practice Manager and Reception Manager, who helped us purchase tools and equipment.
Matt, who was a social prescriber involved in this project at the time, and I made sure we were present at every session to offer a warm welcome and a familiar face, which helped people feel comfortable and settle in quickly.
But the willingness of participants to get involved and try something new was just as important. Which I think was made possible because of the discussions that had taken place beforehand. We were delivering something people co-designed and felt control over.
this project has highlighted a need for green social prescribing activities in our community.
The gardening club has been a great success, and we plan to continue it in Spring 2026 after a break over the winter months. We are currently redesigning the offering and aim to have a programme for our patients soon. For now, we’re exploring additional groups, such as walking groups, as this project has highlighted a need for green social prescribing activities in our community. We’re actually on the waiting list for some walk leader training! The key is offering options for different people tailored to different interests and abilities.
Getting active in nature can be a simple, enjoyable way to support both physical and mental health, while also helping people connect with others. Using the outdoors can also make staying active feel more accessible. So, even a small green space at your surgery can be an opportunity. With the right support, resources and collaboration it can be a starting point to improve patient’s physical activity and wellbeing.
If you’re a social prescriber who was interested in doing something similar, my advice to you would be:
If you’re a patient at Drayton Surgery, you can get in touch with Sarah or Katie by emailing hiowicb-p.portsmouthnorthpcn@nhs.net to find out what activities are currently running.
Helping us tackle inactivity to boost health and happiness
