Why we started
For many older people, the garden is far more than a patch of outdoor space. It is a source of pride, a connection to the seasons, a place where lifelong skills live, and often a space tied to treasured memories. But illness, bereavement, reduced mobility, or simply the passing of years can make it feel out of reach too much to manage, too daunting to restart.
We started Your Garden Companions because we saw that gap, and because we knew gardening had the power to close it. Not grand, ambitious projects, just the quiet, steady pleasure of being in a garden with someone who enjoys it as much as you do. Potting on seedlings. Deadheading roses. Deciding where to put the dahlias. Sitting together with a cup of tea and watching the birds.
That is what we offer. And the research backs up what gardeners have always known: regular time spent growing things, with good company, measurably reduces loneliness, improves mood, keeps the body moving, and reconnects people to a sense of purpose and identity.
What makes us different
We are not a gardening service, we are a companion gardening service. The distinction matters. Our sessions are built around the person, not the to-do list. We take our lead entirely from the people we work with: what they can do, what they enjoy, what they want their garden to look and feel like.
We are DBS-checked, fully insured, and experienced in working with people with dementia, reduced mobility, and a range of other health conditions. We work closely with NHS social prescribers, GPs, and care professionals, and our sessions are available through social prescription for people referred by a health or care professional.
