University of Leicester Botanic Garden - Feel Green

During 2012 BGCI supported four UK gardens to re-evaluate their social role and to develop small-scale projects to engage with their local communities. Here we profile the University of Leicester Botanic Gardens. For more information download the the Garden's report and view a short film about the project commissioned by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

Working with MOSAIC, a local organization that provides services for people with disabilities, University of Leicester Botanic Garden offered a programme of activities for 28 people with disabilities. The activities focused on horticulture, plant uses, the environment and art giving plenty of opportunities for hands-on experiences. The participants were varied in their ability and, while feedback was extremely positive, the botanic garden staff learnt an enormous amount during the project which they plan to build on.

Read the Garden's report

Watch the film about the project (5 mins)