A COMMUNITY garden in Wantage has helped a woman who suffers from epilepsy and short-term memory loss ‘feel free’.

Hannah Crab, from Didcot, has been visiting the garden for about five years with the help of her support worker, Wendy Trueman.

The garden, which is owned by Oxfordshire County Council, sits to the back of the adult social care team’s Wantage Community Service Building.

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The garden is looked after by community action group, Sustainable Wantage, in partnership with care providers Style Acre.

“It’s good for the soul,” said Ms Crab. “It’s beautiful here. I love the outdoors, meeting new people and doing a bit of gardening.”

Support worker Ms Trueman has been working with Ms Crab for more than two years and has seen her confidence grow.

She said: “The garden really helps Hannah’s outlook on life. There are times when she’s struggling emotionally but, when we get here, it lifts her mood and gives her something positive to focus on.”

Ms Trueman is employed by Style Acre, a charity that supports people with learning difficulties and autism.

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They help around 275 people in the county in supported living housing as well as providing opportunities for day activities and social enterprises to help service users find employment.

While Style Acre supports the people, the main garden is managed by Sustainable Wantage, which brings in volunteers at weekends to help keep the site maintained.

On Oxfordshire County Council’s website, it says “On the surface, the garden is a simple programme, helping adults needing additional support to feel the benefits of nature.

“But dig a little deeper and you will find the roots of the county council’s Oxfordshire Way – an approach which is fundamentally transforming how care is delivered in the county.

“By focusing on each individual, and working with community partners, people are being helped to live well within their community, remaining fit and healthy for as long as possible.”

Ms Crab said her mental wellbeing benefits from the garden and helps her to control her epilepsy, giving her ‘greater confidence to live life her way’, without the need for more formal care.

And while many gardeners are thinking about packing their tools away for the winter, Ms Crab has been planning ahead.

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“We’ll be making Christmas wreaths and decorations soon,” she said. “Come on down. If you like being outdoors and meeting new people – you’ll just love it here.”

For more information, or to book a prearranged visit, visit Wantage Market Garden on Facebook.

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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