Directory: Green Social Prescribing

Cycling can help improve people’s health and wellbeing but many people are put off using a bicycle in Frome because of the hills. So Frome now has available a couple of electric power assist bicycles (ebikes) that helps to reduce the strain of cycling up hills and makes cycling more fun.

Provided by Frome Town Council for either half day (£6) or whole day (£12) hire.

Home energy advice and assistance, grants and loans to improve energy efficiency, energy saving tips, home energy checklist and more from Mendip District Council.

This is not a garden maintenance service. Rather, the aim is to establish mutually beneficial partnerships between frustrated gardeners and garden owners, providing guidance and support to both parties to foster a successful collaboration. Offers a simple and user-friendly platform for connecting individuals on allotment waiting lists with those willing to share their gardens.

The Volunteer Network are running this allotment project every Tuesday and Wednesday in Glastonbury. They are looking for people who want to get involved in outdoor projects, have an interest in growing produce or want to improve their knowledge and understanding of growing their own food. This project enables participants to gain knowledge to improve their diet and nutrition. It is great for fitness and strength.

If you are interested, please visit their website and complete the online sign up form or contact Sue on the number below.

Frome Field 2 Fork offer a range of free sessions including the Growing Strong. Providing an opportunity to get out in nature, get fit, meet new people, take part in practical conservation, and grow local food with a new social enterprise.  Sundays 10:00-3:00 pm  at Oak Tree Paddock, Whitemill Lane, Frome BA11 4EU.

Work at your own pace in a relaxed environment and choose between activities suited to all levels of fitness. Typical activities include sowing seeds, planting, weeding or pruning, creating no-dig veg beds, digging up brambles, constructing new garden features, hedgerow harvesting and building bug hotels.

We aim to ensure that people in Frome who are at risk of cold homes get the support they need. For households on low incomes living in houses with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or under this could include financial support of up to £10,000 towards improving the energy efficiency of your home.

The free Energy Essentials course is designed to enable you to provide energy advice to people in Frome. If you work in a role where you are in contact with the public, give advice or support on other issues, or would like to become a Healthy Homes volunteer, this training is for you.

Get outside on the farm! Join Paddington Farm in Glastonbury for a morning’s work on the farm, or in the organic vegetable garden, before coming together to share a tasty lunch (made using organic produce).

Tasks vary according to the season, but may include planting and weeding, tree work, fencing, or helping with the apple juice enterprise. You’ll be part of a friendly, welcoming group and you can work at your own pace. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary.

Volunteer days are every Wednesday, from 9.00am to 1.00pm.

Contact Paddington Farm for further details or to reserve your place.

Root Connections is a community ‘not for profit’ market garden to improve mental & physical health & wellbeing. based at Stratton on the Fosse, BA3 4QF. We’re open on a Tues & Fri morning from 10am until 1pm, on a Friday we share lunch together. We make gardening accessible to everyone – from all walks of life. We have different areas within the garden to work on and enjoy. A warm welcome awaits anyone who would like to get involved in the garden & join a group of like minded volunteers

‘Volunteer Saturdays’, at Vallis Veg every 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month from midday until 3pm. Volunteers are required to help and maintain the forest school site and allotments. Nearest postcode to the site is BA11 3EA.

Practical conservation groups carrying out seasonal outdoor tasks in the countryside. Suitable for those who are reasonably physically fit, no training required. See link for Somerset area programmes and contact details.

Worried about energy bills? The Home Energy Team provides free, impartial, local energy saving advice. This includes telephone advice on keeping warm and well in winter, cutting your energy bills, limited home visits and information on funding for energy saving improvements for people living in Mendip. The Home Energy Team provides in-depth support to households across Somerset who may be struggling with keeping warm and well at home.

Call free: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

This project aims to benefit people with learning disabilities and people who are isolated, elderly or vulnerable in the community. A gardening service, led by adults with learning disabilities will be available to people in the community who are unable to care for their gardens themselves.

The activities include:  garden assessments – garden maintenance – garden waste disposal and some planting. Call the number below, leave your contact name and number and the jobs you would like done and the gardening team will call you back.

Provide information relating to volunteering and details of volunteer bureau across the country.

The Growing for Wellbeing Project is a small weekly group that welcomes people who want to get outdoors and learn new skills. It is a beautiful rural location easily accessible by public transport. It can cater for any weather with large areas under cover.

Mondays 10.30-1pm, Catsham, Baltonsborough, BA6 8PQ. Please use to the contact information below to book. Booking essential.

Autism Friendly Growing for Wellbeing Group is a small weekly group that welcomes people who want to get outdoors and learn new skills. It is a beautiful rural location easily accessible by public transport. It can cater for any weather with large areas under cover.

It offers quiet, calm working spaces and a small supportive group with lived experience in autism. Its main emphasis is horticulture, wildlife gardening and rural craft skills. There is no requirement to attend every week or the whole session. Its very much about what is right for the individual on the day.

Thursdays 10am-2pm, Catsham, Baltonsborough, BA6 8PQ