Growing trees at M6 services 'changed my life'

Growing Well opened a site beside Tebay Services in 2023 using gardening to promote good mental health

A mental health charity is aiming to grow up to 50,000 native tree saplings a year as part of plans to regenerate woodlands.

Growing Well uses horticulture to help people recover from severe mental health difficulties at its base near Tebay services on the M6 in Cumbria.

Volunteer Ian Hutchinson said taking part in the nature project, which has aptly been named Treebay, "changed my life" following a breakdown last year.

Saplings will eventually be planted across the county including as part of an Atlantic rainforest at Skiddaw Forest.

Mr Hutchinson joined the Growing Well team earlier this year and will receive 12 months of support from the charity.

"I hit rock bottom and I want everybody to know that there is help like this out there," he said. "Nature is just good for the soul."

Ian Hutchinson says being outside in nature has had a dramatic impact on his mental health

As part of the tree nursery project, the volunteers harvest seeds from sites near Tebay then propagate them.

Native broad leaf species like Common Alder, Beech and Hazel thrive in the Cumbrian climate.

Often, saplings grown elsewhere in the country struggle to acclimatise to conditions, something Treebay hopes to address.

"If a sapling can survive at Tebay, it can survive anywhere," joked site manager Claire Mounsey.

Volunteers are referred to the project by GPs and mental health services and work under the supervision of growers and mental health support staff at bases in Tebay, Kendal and Egremont

Ms Mounsey said: "Seeing how a volunteer arrives and they can be quiet and maybe a bit withdrawn, and then they become engaged in the process and make friends, it's just amazing to see."

During summer months, the charity grows salad crops and supplies the Tebay services kitchen.

The tree nursery will give volunteers a focus during winter, those working on the project hope.

Proceeds from any trees sold will be reinvested into the service.