A MENTAL health charity has started a vegetable patch to help promote the benefits of healthy eating thanks to a donation from a supermarket.

Oxfordshire charity Bridewell Gardens aims to transform the lives of people affected by serious mental illness by providing support to rebuild their self-esteem and confidence.

And it helps with their return to work, education, and other roles within their communities.

Users of the therapeutic garden will work together to grow seasonal vegetables, which can then be used in the charity’s cooking sessions, as well as give them the confidence to grow their own produce at home to benefit the health and wellbeing of their family too.

Ruth Madder, director of Bridewell Gardens, said: “I would like to extend a massive thank you to The Midcounties Co-operative for their generous donation. We know how valuable it is to grow produce, cook and share food together.

“Their support will help us to continue providing meaningful and rewarding therapeutic gardening activities for people in our community whose lives have been affected by serious mental ill health.”

Midcounties Co-operative donated £530 to Bridewell Gardens as part of the Society’s Community Funding support scheme, where it offers up to £2,000 to organisations, charities, and groups to help fund vital projects that make a difference in their local communities.