Reflections from Wen’s Soil Sisters Therapeutic Gardener
Soil Sisters is Wen’s therapeutic horticulture programme based in women’s refuges in East London. Each week we garden, cook, craft and spend time outdoors with women and children who are rebuilding their lives after violence, displacement or crisis. The gardens give women somewhere calm, familiar and welcoming to come together. They offer a chance to learn new skills, share stories, breathe in fresh air and find moments of hope in difficult times.
These diary notes are taken from my sessions throughout the year. Each entry holds a memory from the garden. Together they show the rhythm of change, the friendships that form and the small but meaningful joys that make Soil Sisters such a special programme.
Bernadette combines her background working in mental health and homelessness services with her passion for gardening to transform neglected spaces into community gardens.
– Bernadette Kennedy, Soil Sisters Therapeutic Gardener
12 June – A new arrival and a cup of camomile
Today felt like a real treat. We welcomed Romell, the baby of our children and family worker Lauren. Everyone was delighted to meet him. We still managed to harvest rhubarb and chard, refresh our hanging baskets with new compost and enjoy calming camomile tea together.
10 July – Shade, shared drinks and gentle conversations
It was too hot for much activity in the garden today, so we stayed cool with herbal water and talked about everything from daily life to wider issues. There are lots of changes at the refuge at the moment. Women are leaving and arriving, and I can see friendships forming that will last for years. We cleaned and aired shoes after the rain, harvested salad leaves and made mint drinks. One woman climbed a tree to put up new solar lights so the garden has a gentle glow at night.
31 July – Painted benches and salad lunchboxes
The past couple of weeks have been busy since school broke up. We have been planning activities that include a wide range of children while also navigating staff changes and new arrivals. We painted benches, collected seeds and made origami seed packets. The children were so careful with the seeds they collected. We harvested lettuce, chard, tomatoes and rhubarb and everyone took home a salad lunchbox. One woman made an amazing salad. We also said goodbye to Shelina, our lovely manager, who loves rhubarb, so we made sure she had plenty!
27 August – Seeds, rain showers and snail gardens
With cooler weather arriving, we started sowing coriander, salad leaves, beetroot and spinach in both refuges. Children joined in and we worked under umbrellas or awnings when the rain came. One woman said how nice it was for us all to come together and work on something as a group. The children loved finding snails and made a little garden for them. We also saved our own seeds which helps keep costs down and makes us feel connected to the seasons. And they’re stronger seeds!
25 September – Sunshine, harvest and a farmyard feast
We visited Stepney City Farm for the Power of Food Community Harvest Festival. We enjoyed a sunny meal outdoors, explored the gardens, met the animals and joined a tour of the site. It was a joyful day. Thank you to Just FACT and Stepney.
7 October – New faces and fresh air
Our session at Saoirse refuge today was gentle and warm. Two new women joined us. We introduced ourselves and talked about how everyone was doing, as well as hopes and plans for the weeks ahead. The group includes many different skills and languages and there may be sewing sessions coming soon. We also spoke about how difficult it can be to slow down under stress and what helps in those moments: fresh air, trees, being outside. We ended the session with a practical task, planting for the future and feeling the earth in our hands.
15 October – Nature inspired art indoors
We held a nature based art session indoors today. We collected leaves and flowers from the garden, admired their colours and shared the different names we use for them. We made cards for our family worker who leaves tomorrow and talked together about ideas for future sessions. The creativity in the room was lovely to see.
23 October – Autumn colours and a moment of calm
At the Hackney refuge we held an autumn workshop. We focused on the colours and changes of the season and how leaves can be so simple yet so rich. One woman arrived distressed after news that her mother had fallen back home in Iran. Being far away made everything feel heavy. After some kind support from the group, she joined the art activity. Later she told us that being in the session had helped her feel calmer. It is moments like this that show the value of these spaces.
30 October – A day out at mudchute city farm
We spent most of today at Mudchute City Farm and it was a lot of fun. For many of the children it was their first visit to a farm. We did arts and crafts, enjoyed warm drinks and snacks and fed the animals.
6 November – Planting bulbs for brighter days
We had a lovely big gardening session today. We planted bulbs in pots and in the garden after clearing some old plant debris. It felt good to sit together, talk and connect to the season by clearing away what was old and planting something new that will brighten the garden in spring. Some women joined on their lunch breaks and children not yet settled into school came along too. We got muddy and messy and felt the sun on our faces.
2025 – A year of growth
Looking back over these entries, I see how much has taken root. The gardens have held moments of calm, laughter, learning and shared hope. Even in challenging times, the women find ways to support one another and to make something beautiful.
Soil Sisters is about time, patience, care and connection. It is about creating spaces where women can rest, grow and begin to feel themselves again.
Every week, I see something new take shape.
Every week, a little more light arrives.
– Bernadette
Find out more about Soil Sisters: Letting in the light – How Wen’s Soil Sisters programme helps women heal after violence
Bernadette Kennedy
Bernadette combines her background working in mental health and homelessness services with her passion for gardening to reclaim and transform neglected spaces into community gardens.
