Northampton gardening project supports women in the criminal justice system
Community allotment helps women find peace and purpose in nature
Last updated 6th Feb 2026
In Northamptonshire, a community allotment project is helping to improve the wellbeing of women involved in the criminal justice system by offering therapeutic gardening sessions at a local allotment.
C2C Social Action is behind the project which provides support to women at various stages of the justice system – including those at risk of offending, completing community payback hours, or facing challenges such as mental ill health and substance recovery.
Project Manager Joanne Grant explained the positive benefits of gardening: "The women just love being there; when they've been, they always say that actually being in the peace and the safety of the allotment has really helped them and their well-being."
The project runs twice-weekly sessions focused on gardening, sewing, and cooking. Participants develop skills in cultivation and have the opportunity to take home fresh produce, which they can use in their own kitchens. Additionally, some of the produce is shared with Northampton Women's Centre to support communal meals.
Grant explained: "The allotment allows women to see the process from seed to harvest, giving them a sense of accomplishment when they take food home or contribute to cooking sessions. It's about nurturing the garden and themselves."
Further emphasising the multi-sensory environment, Grant described how engagement with nature positively affects the women: "It's the senses...there's the sound of the birds, peace, and the touch of working with the ground, and seeing things grow and nurturing them. All their senses are being met, which really helps with their well-being."
The project also facilitates cooking sessions, using the produce grown by participants to create healthy recipes. "Once a month, we do cooking sessions, using our vegetables. It gives them a chance to be able to learn some new recipes, some health recipes that they can take home with them," Grant noted.
Through gardening and other activities, the charity encourages women to build friendships and explore peer mentoring roles, creating pathways to reintegration and self-sufficiency.
''Their confidence grows to the point where they can support the new women joining the project.'' Grant added.
Grant also said she has observed a difference to some of the women's attitudes before and after the project: "Women who come at the beginning that aren't doing very well – they leave in a better frame of mind and just feel more uplifted."
“The allotment feels safe for them, and we’re always there if they need to talk about anything going on in their lives.”
For more information on C2C Social Action and the Northampton Women's Centre, visit their website