EVERY day a group of people make their way to an allotment site to learn how to grow and harvest fruit and vegetables.

They dig, till and rake the soil, plant seeds and watch them grow and they feel better in themselves as a result.

The Cellar Trust helps people recovering from mental health problems. It helps them to gradually regain confidence, learn new skills and feel able to return to work.

An important part of the project is the trust’s therapeutic horticulture programme, which aims to teach people to grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables.

At the site beside Marley Stadium, Keighley, horticultural wizard Jack First passes on his expertise. “Horticulture gives people the opportunity to get out in the fresh air, which make a change from being stuck inside” says Jack. “For some people, it takes a lot of effort to get out, but when they do, they enjoy it.

“The key word is ‘therapeutic’.”

He adds: “Gentle exercise helps to release endorphins, which makes them happier. Those attending also benefit from being able to talk to others who may be having similar difficulties.”

Crops include potatoes, onions, peas, beans, salad crops and fruit from a small orchard. “There is a lot of camaraderie, and chance to make friends. People are welcomed and made to feel part of a team.”

Clients – at present Jack instructs 18 people every week – arrive through referrals from GPs and health care workers.

One client, Chris, says the project helps him to meet new people and gets him out of the house. Another, Shaun, adds: “It is good exercise and maintains routine. I like the fact that I have responsibility.”

Says Jack: “Not many have worked in horticulture before, and when they do they quickly become interested to the extent that some have gone on to study horticulture at Shipley College and some have signed up for an allotment.”

Polytunnels allow crops to be cultivated all year round, and clients also use an age-old hot beds growing method adopted by Jack, who has written a book on the subject. Hot beds is an ancient vegetable growing method which produces healthy plants that can be harvested at least two months earlier than conventionally grown vegetables, even in Yorkshire.

Jack also runs courses for the public, which are becoming increasingly popular.

Money raised from the courses is ploughed back into the charity.

“It is pioneering. I have revived it, and adapted it to today’s equipment. The principles are the same but the methods are slightly different. It produces very early vegetables at a time of year when it is impossible to grow them outside.”

Says Alan Stevenson, marketing manager at the trust: “We help people who have had mental health problems to get back into employment.

“Horticulture is a gentle and stimulating way of helping people to be productive and to be active again, with a view to regaining employment.

“The fresh air and activity also brings health benefits which help people to feel better in themselves.”

He adds: “It gives people the chance to learn about practices such as hot beds – this is a phenomenal way of growing produce and produces such good yields. Our courses have been very successful.”

Other activities helping clients at the Cellar Project include woodwork.

Under the expert eye of John Barrett, clients can make benches, planters and nest boxes.

Further opportunities include working in the project’s charity shop in Shipley and in its cafe at the project’s Farfield Road headquarters, where some of the produce grown on the allotment site is used.

Fruit and vegetables are also sold at the project’s well-stocked organic shop at Farfield Road.

“We do our best to work out what people’s strengths are and help them to develop skills in that area,” adds Jack.

“If at the allotments I find someone has a particular skill such as carpentry I will tap into it and involve them in making frames for the hot beds.

“We try to bring out the best in people, which helps to build their confidence.”

lJack First’s hot bed courses will be held on Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22. They run from 10am to 4pm and cost £35. The produce shop, Bradford Wholefoods at Farfield Road, Shipley, is open on Thursday and Friday from 10am to 5pm.

For more details contact the Cellar Trust on (01274) 586474.