As a Community Interest Company, the primary aim of The Serge Hill Project is to provide resources to local schools and community groups so that people who otherwise might not have access to green space can benefit from spending time in nature and learn about gardening. The Apple House is a purpose-built hub for training, education and creativity, set in a nurturing garden environment, enabling creative ways of connecting with nature.

We work with local schools, community groups, charities and also GP surgeries, to offer an extended programme of workshops and activities. Our events and collaborations are coordinated by the Director of Programmes, Becky Fincham. If you think there is a way we can work together, we would love to hear from you.

The Plant Library lends itself to sessions aimed at fostering nature connection. The huge variety of colours, forms, textures and scents, along with its prolific insect life, help stimulate the imagination, awaken curiosity and provides a source of wonder. In our therapeutic and vegetable beds, children can also have hands-on experience of sowing, tending and harvesting vegetables and flowers, as well as habitat creation.

We run sessions for primary, secondary and special needs schools as well as home-schooling groups. Some are whole year groups whilst others are smaller and include children in pastoral care, school eco-councils and students on work experience. We cover a range of topics, including art, ecology, digital photography and nutrition as well as broader wellbeing focussed activities. In addition, our newly launched outreach programme provides support for schools wanting to develop gardens on their own site. We can host up to 30 pupils per visit, as well as smaller groups and have additional funding available if transport is a barrier.

If you are a local school, our Education Coordinator, Rachel Rice, would love to hear from you. Please get in touch to arrange a visit.

We also provide resources for adults in the local community. Our Gardening ForHealth programme runs activities for people referred by one of our local GP practices, as part of a social prescribing initiative.
These sessions integrate gardening, creativity and wellbeing to support and connect people suffering from social isolation and dealing with long-term health conditions.

We are currently running a 12-week Cancer Recovery Group for those who have been recovering from or are currently dealing with a cancer diagnosis within the last 5 years. The groups are run by a professional gardener, florist and Consultant Macmillan Nurse. Please contact Becky Fincham, Director of Programmes if you would like to receive more details about this course.

The Serge Hill Project is actively working in collaboration with community groups and local charities to deliver creative and gardening-based sessions to individuals and families who may be living with learning differences or dementia, as well as those who may have experienced homelessness or are at risk in some other way.

There are no limits to who can enjoy the benefits of gardening and nature-connection. Local groups we are currently partnering with include HACRO, New Hope, Passport To Leisure, Gardening Drawing Club and Art Salad.

If you’re a local group that would like to be involved, please contact us

The Orchard Nursery is a propagation and training facility located at The Serge Hill Project, run by Sunnyside Rural Trust, a Hertfordshire based charity and social enterprise which offers horticultural training for adults with learning disabilities. Trainees propagate plants from The Plant Library and grow them on for commercial sale at select Serge Hill Project events and garden openings and from Sunnyside’s Hemel Hempstead site. Every plant sold supports therapy, training and work opportunities for vulnerable people.