High Ground: Finding Roots to Recovery Through Horticultural Therapy

At the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Stanford Hall, recovery is about more than clinical treatment. It is about rebuilding confidence, purpose, and community. Through our partnership with HighGround, we supported the development of willow weaving as a therapeutic activity for residents to undertake as part of their recovery from serious illness or injury. Using specially adapted tools and new craft skills, residents learnt how to make festive wreaths and table top decorations that they could take home to share with their families and friends.

About HighGround

HighGround is a national charity that helps service leavers, veterans, and reservists build “life beyond the military – outdoors.” One of its core programmes is Horticultural Therapy, delivered at DMRC Stanford Hall, where Occupational Therapists specially trained in Horticultural Therapy use plants and gardening activities to achieve clinically defined goals.

Patients referred to horticultural therapy often live with complex conditions, including neurological injuries, chronic pain, and limb loss. Sessions are tailored to suit each patient and their recovery goals. They aim to support both physical and mental health and wellbeing, helping individuals regain confidence and functional ability in an environment that is peaceful, purposeful, and healing.

Since 2014, HighGround has delivered thousands of therapy sessions, from planting and maintaining gardens to creative projects such as wreath-making. The beautiful garden with a large greenhouse, surfaced paths, raised planting beds, and adaptive tools enables patients with differing mobility needs to enjoy sessions working outside, giving them tangible achievements and a renewed sense of control.

The Impact of Willow Weaving

Our recent support enabled HighGround to establish willow weaving as a therapeutic activity. Our funding enabled HighGround Horticultural Therapists to undertake specialist training and work with a local craftsman to develop new skills so that they could run their own sessions with residents.

Working with willow helps build strength and manual dexterity. Undertaking a creative activity helps to support people psychologically by building confidence, improving mood and wellbeing. Learning a new skill helps to improve cognitive function, including following instructions, sequencing correctly and memory recall. If done in a group, it also provides a great opportunity for social interaction and supports team building.

Feedback from residents has been very positive, with one recent participant enjoying several sessions of willow weaving and commenting, “That was the best exercise I have been given for my hand!”

With our support, the benefits of willow weaving are now clearly understood, and the new skills acquired by the HighGround team will continue to benefit residents at the DMRC for many years to come.

Why This Matters

It costs HighGround approximately £115 to deliver one session of horticultural therapy. Every session is an investment in dignity, recovery, and belonging. By supporting HighGround, the League of Remembrance helps ensure that no injured service person is excluded from opportunities to heal and grow.